Irishman appears in New York court on assault charge following Thanksgiving death
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Irishman appears in New York court on assault charge following Thanksgiving death

A DUBLIN man has appeared in court in New York charged with assault in relation to the death of a man from Longford.

Steven O’Brien, 25, has been charged with third degree assault following the incident outside the Gaslight pub in Queens during the early hours of Thanksgiving, November 22.

John ‘Danny’ McGee, 21, was found unresponsive outside the bar and was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Prosecutors say Mr O’Brien punched Mr McGee once on the side of the head, leading him to fall and hit his head on the pavement.

If convicted, Mr O’Brien could face up to a year in prison.

The court hearing took place on the day Mr McGee would have turned 22.

Mr O’Brien, who posted a $25,000 bond in November, was released on continuing bail and will reappear in court on February 21.

Outside court yesterday, Mr O’Brien’s lawyer Matthew Gartenberg said his client had pleaded not guilty and was maintaining his innocence.