THE IRISH man implicated in the fatal one-punch attack on Danny McGee outside a bar in New York will not face murder charges over the incident.
Steven O’Brien, 25, turned himself into the police a day after fleeing the scene of the attack on McGee, who was just 21 at the time of his death.
The incident occurred outside The Gaslight pub in Queens during the early hours of Thanksgiving.
According to reports, O’Brien and McGee were involved in a heated argument inside the venue which spilled out into the street.
It was there that O’Brien delivered the fatal punch to McGee before making his escape on foot.
O’Brien, who is a Dublin native, has now been formally charged with third-degree assault according to The Daily News.
The report indicates the 25-year-old will not face homicide charges after it became clear he had no intention of killing McGee.
"While this is a tragic event, Mr. O'Brien denies all wrongdoing and is not guilty," his lawyer, Matthew Gartenberg said.
He must be a magician: "Steven O’Brien, 25, turned himself into [sic] the New York City Police Department on Friday morning, the New York Post reported." https://t.co/Q6c4cbx1Q5 #FoxNews @Kathleen_Joyce8
— Daphne Miller (@DaphneDMiller) November 24, 2018
The Dubliner is now out on bail after friends posted the necessary $25,000 bond for his release.
If convicted he could face up to a year in New York City’s infamous Rikers Island penitentiary.
A court date of January 4th has been set for the case.
Despite the serious nature of the charges, an unnamed friend insisted to The Daily News [via Irish Central]that the attack was out of character, adding that O’Brien is a “nervous wreck” over the incident.
"He’s a f---ing puppy dog. Dealing with the aftermath is going to be hard for him," they said.
A popular figure at his local GAA club in Longford, McGee’s death sparked an outpouring of tributes from those who knew the young man.
Though born in the US, McGee spent his formative years over in Ireland before returning to America to embark on a new career and life.
