Man who caused catastrophic injuries to girlfriend’s brother jailed

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A man who assaulted his girlfriend’s brother causing catastrophic internal injuries has been jailed for more than nine years.

Pearse Kavanagh, now 47, attacked his then partner before turning on Philip McQueeney as the trio socialised inside a South Shields house on July 19, 2022.

As a result of the assault, 40-year-old Philip suffered internal bleeding which later proved fatal.

When officers arrived at the address on Rowan Drive following a report of a disturbance, they were met by the female victim, Sarah McQueeny, who had suffered facial injuries and bruising, and found Philip lying on the living room floor in a dazed state.

[modula id=”5971″]

He soon became unresponsive and his condition rapidly deteriorated, tragically passing away in hospital less than three hours later.

A post-mortem found Philip had suffered a cardiac arrest and internal bleeding as a result of the injuries suffered to his body, which were consistent with having been punched or kicked.

Kavanagh, who had been initially arrested in connection with the assault against his partner and the attack on Philip, was then re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in June 2023.

He was later charged and went on to plead guilty to the assault but denied manslaughter, claiming Philip had attacked him and they had ended up punching each other, but that he had not kicked him.

But following a ten-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court in December 2024, a jury found Kavanagh, of Coldwell Terrace in Gateshead, guilty of manslaughter and he was remanded in custody.

On Friday, Kavanagh appeared before the same court where a judge sentenced him to nine and a half years in prison for manslaughter, and 10 months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Detective Inspector Simon Drenon, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: “No result will change or reverse the tragic events leading to Philip’s death – and our thoughts remain with his loved ones at this time.
“They have shown incredible patience and dignity throughout the lengthy proceedings, and I sincerely hope the sentence passed today can offer them some degree of comfort.

“This is unfortunately yet another sad case that highlights the potential consequences of choosing violence. Kavanagh made a decision to act in such a manner – and now as a result, he has destroyed more than one life forever.

“There is never an acceptable excuse for violence and this tragic case should act as a sobering reminder of that across all communities we serve.”

Our Top Stories This Week

About The Reporter

Managing Director at  | 03333583651 | aaron.kearney@kearneymail.net | Web |  + posts

Managing Director of Kearney CK Group Limited

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments