A DOG walker told a jury yesterday that he performed CPR on a young man who collapsed in a car park at Tyrella Beach in Co Down.
The man was giving evidence at the third day of a trial concerning the death of Darren O'Neill (22), who died two days after he was punched in the face.
Joseph Dorrian (23), from Lakeview in Crumlin, is currently standing trial at Downpatrick Crown Court after denying a charge of manslaughter on the grounds of self-defence.
Mr O'Neill, Dorrian and two female friends travelled from Belfast to the Co Down beach on June 27, 2019, and the jury has already heard that the two men became involved in an argument after a drunken Mr O'Neill drove Dorrian's Seat Arona in the car park.
A couple who came to Mr O'Neill's aid on the evening in question gave evidence via videolink. They parked their van at around 7.30pm and were about to take their two dogs for a walk on the beach when they observed the blue jeep being driven in an erratic manner.
The male witness said the man behind the wheel - Mr O'Neill - was "trying to do handbrake turns as speed" and when the vehicle stopped he saw Dorrian approach the jeep, pull Mr O'Neill out by the t-shirt and shout at him.
The witness said he then saw Mr O'Neill hit Dorrian "a wee slap" then saw the men "shouting back and forwards." The dog-walker said he walked on towards the beach but then heard two thuds which made him turn around.
The man said he was aware Mr O'Neill has fallen and was down for a couple of seconds "then he got back up again and sort of stumbled to the back of the car."
"He was stumbling all over the place. Joseph (Dorrian) was at the back of the car, the two of them met, the two of them hugged and shortly after that he collapsed."
The man said when it became apparent the situation was serious, he and his girlfriend went over to offer assistance.
An ambulance was called and the dog-walker said that after being given instructions down the phone, he began performing CPR "straight away".
His girlfriend also gave evidence, and described Mr O'Neill and Dorrian rowing in the car park after the driving incident. She said: "Darren punched Joseph, I think he went to punch him in the face but he actually hit his chest.
"There was a bit of shouting and Darren started saying 'I didn't mean to hit you, come on hit me back, hit me back."
She also described Mr O'Neill as being "unsteady on his feet and stumbling about" after being punched, and that when Mr O'Neill collapsed Dorrian laid him on the ground.
Mr O'Neill was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast but died later.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Christopher Johnson, who carried out the post mortem, said death was due to blunt trauma to the head which tore an internal artery, causing a bleed on the brain and a cardiac arrest.
Revealing Mr O'Neill also sustained a fracture to a small bone in his neck, Dr Johnson - who also appeared via a videolink - told the jury "there must have been some element of force behind this punch."
Dorrian has denied a charge of manslaughter and has made the case that after being punched by Mr O'Neill he 'responded immediately' in self defence.