A FORMER friend of Newcastle man Padraig Fox admitted last Friday to his unlawful killing.
Mr Fox was found dead in a flat in the Burrendale Park area last December 8 in what was described as a “one-punch” attack.
Donach Rice (22), from Kilkeel Road, Annalong, appeared at Downpatrick Court, sitting in Belfast, and pleaded guilty to all five charges put to him.
He admitted the manslaughter of Mr Fox along with two charges of perverting the course of justice by making a false statement to police regarding Mr Fox’s death and also injuring himself with a knife following the assault on the dead man to create the impression that the killing had been done in self-defence.
Rice further admitted a charge of common assault and fraud by false representation on the same day by presenting a betting slip belonging to someone else at Toals Bookmaker.
A second co-accused and Rice’s cousin, Nathan Rice, also appeared in court and admitted to perverting the course of justice.
Nathan Rice (21), whose address was given as Saul Street, Downpatrick, made a written statement of evidence to police on December 8 during the early stage of the investigation which he knew to be false.
At an earlier court hearing in September, he also admitted breaking into the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, on December 8 last year and stealing three bottles of drink.
Donach Rice was remanded back into custody and Nathan Rice was released on continuing bail. They are due to be sentenced in January.
A third co-accused is due to appear in court this week.