MARK Donnelly - recently acquitted of the one-punch killing of Monaghan teenager Jason McGovern - has been freed for involvement in a previous melee in which the victim's friend was assaulted.
What can also be reported for the first time is that Donnelly's 25-year-old partner Aisling McAleer, along with four Tyrone men, have already been sentenced and freed for their parts arising out of the tragic events of that 2012 New Years' Eve.
Mr McGovern (19) was found dead in the home of a friend in the Monaghan village of Mullan, hours after being floored by a single punch in the Omagh carpark of the Weigh Inn.
On Friday, Donnelly, convicted at his first full trial of having "fought and made an affray", was given a four month prison sentence, suspended for a year, for his involvement in the first incident.
It was during this initial 21-second fracas outside the Terrace Bar in Omagh's John Street at around 3am that Jason's friend Liam Williams had his jaw fractured.
Lady Justice Keegan told Belfast Crown Court that in the four years since the incident, Donnelly has "expressed an appreciation of the seriousness" of what occurred, especially regarding the impact Mr McGovern's death has had on his family.
The Judge also told Probation that Mr McGovern's family have not got justice as no-one has been held acountable for his death.
During sentencing, Lady Justice Keegan said "this was an unsavoury incident undoubtedly fuelled by alcohol", adding such anti-social behaviour was "clearly unacceptable."
Regarding the offence of affray for which Donnelly was found guilty, Lady Justice Keegan branded the incident as "spontaneous", adding there was no physical evidence there was any contact made by Donnelly.
