A thug who 'revelled in violence' killed a 'funny and kind' family man with one punch - then sent sick texts bragging about the attack. Michael Hannan, 32, felled James O'Hara in the street before running away laughing, LancsLive reports.
In the hours that followed he then posed for photos in a boxing stance and sent text messages gloating about breaking his victim's bones. Mr O'Hara died eight days later after contracting acute bacterial meningitis from a fracture to his skull.
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Hannan, of Tynewald Road, Blackburn, has today (April 27) been jailed for five years and four months after pleading guilty to manslaughter at Preston Crown Court. Francis McEntee, prosecuting, described how on October 19, Mr O'Hara - a slightly built man - was walking home from a charity shop with a newly purchased vinyl record.
Hannan and his friend Michael Shackleton were walking in the opposite direction along Gisburn Road, Barrowford, after drinking in a nearby pub. As the three men passed each other there was a confrontation in which Mr O'Hara asked Mr Shackleton what he was growling at, and squared up to him.
Hannan punched Mr O'Hara, 45, in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. As Mr O'Hara lay unconscious on the pavement, Hannan and Mr Shackleton ran away laughing.
Members of the public rushed to Mr O'Hara's aid and he was taken to hospital and treated for a fractured eye socket and cheekbone. A CT scan later revealed he also had a fracture to his temple extending to the base of his skull.
He returned to hospital on several occasions and documented his injuries in text messages to friends. On October 26, Mr O'Hara sent a final text message, however two days later a concerned friend contacted the police, concerned for his welfare, as he had not been seen or heard from. The police visited his home and forced entry to discover Mr O'Hara had died.
A post mortem concluded he died from acute bacterial meningitis which was a direct result of the fracture to his skull. A police appeal was launched to find the person responsible for his injuries, and Hannan handed himself in at a local police station.
When officers checked his mobile phone they discovered sickening text messages in which Hannan bragged about 'belting out' Mr O'Hara and 'popping his nose in one punch'. He said he felt Mr O'Hara's bones break and it was 'gorgeous'.
Mr McEntee said: "This was a thug revelling in his thuggery."
At the sentence hearing at Preston Crown Court, Mr O'Hara's brother Matthew read a statement from the family, setting out how they had been affected by the death of his brother. He described a kind and funny brother, who loved music and sport.
He said: "Everyone has choices. Michael Hannan instinctively chose violence. He could have chosen to walk away but he didn't. He could have chosen to to apologise or reason but he didn't. He chose to use his fists which caused the death of our son.
"Those two men then chose to run away, leaving James injured. In the days after, Michael Hannan sent a series of messages, bragging. The pain of having to listen to those messages will stay with us for the rest of our lives. They are not the words of a man acting in self defence - they are the words of a thug.
"We will forever be broken by the way James was taken from us. James had an infectious personality and was the heart and should of our family. From the day he was born his life was built around love.
"He was the second pair of eyes in the car, the second pair of hands and my armchair pal when we watched football together. The pain is unbearable and we will miss him every single day of our lives. In the words of his favourite song, 'there is a light that will never go out'."
Bob Sastry, defending, told the court Hannan now wishes to apologise to the O'Hara family for the pain he has inflicted both from the attack on Mr O'Hara and the messages he sent afterwards. He said he did not know at the time Mr O'Hara would lose his life.
Sentencing, The Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, said: "Mr O'Hara was funny, kind and affectionate and will be terribly missed. The sadness described and additional pain caused by bragging after he had assaulted Mr O'Hara add to the terrible sense of loss the wider family feel.
"Mr O'Hara squaring up to Matthew Shackleton was nothing to justify the use of force. The boastful texts set Hanna's previous convictions for violence in an entirely unflattering context.
"He believes causing harm to people is something to be proud of. He enjoys mocking people who have had unlawful injuries inflicted on them. However I accept he is now, albeit rather late, remorseful."
He jailed Hannan for five years and four months, of which the defendant will serve half in custody before being released on licence.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Haworth-Oates, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: "My thoughts today are first and foremost with the family and loved ones of James O'Hara. They have lost a family member and friend as a result of a needless, unprovoked and vicious assault.
"James O'Hara posed no threat whatsoever to Michael Hannan who punched him with such force that he inflicted the injuries that would sadly lead to his death. He then went on to disgracefully revel in what he had done and showed no remorse and only accepted his guilt on the day of his trial."
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