Man admits hostel beating killing

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6059868.stm

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A man from Belfast has admitted kicking and punching another man to death in a hostel in the city's Brunswick Street.

Edward Beattie, 37, from Carrs Glen Park, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of former soldier Eric Joseph Atkinson in March 2004.

Two other men have already been sentenced for their part in the death Mr Atkinson in the Lee Hestia Hostel where alcohol was permitted.

Beattie was released on continuing bail and will be sentenced on 28 November.

The two other men who have already been sentenced both admitted manslaughter.

John Anthony McCullough, 43, was jailed for six years in July this year after agreeing to spend a further year on probation and 41-year-old David McBratney was jailed for eight years.

During a previous hearing the court was told that Beattie was the "main instigator" of the attack on Mr Atkinson.

Both McCullough and McBratney claimed he had started the fight and "kept repeatedly hitting him and kicking him in the face".