Death of Patrick Cronin

Pat Cronin
Born
Patrick John Cronin

(1996-09-24)24 September 1996[1]
Bundoora, Victoria, Australia[1]
Died18 April 2016(2016-04-18) (aged 19)[2]
Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia
Cause of deathAcute extra-dural haemorrhage following blunt force trauma (coward punch)
Education
Parents
  • Matt Cronin (father)
  • Robyn Cronin (mother)
WebsitePat Cronin Foundation

Patrick John Cronin (24 September 1996 – 18 April 2016) was a 19-year-old Australian man who died following a brawl at the Windy Mile Hotel in Diamond Creek, Victoria in 2016. Cronin was killed by a single strike to the back of his head (described as a coward punch) while he attempted to pull his friend out of the fight.

It is believed the brawl involved up to thirty individuals, several of whom were charged in relation to the brawl. The main offender, Andrew William Lee, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Cronin and received a prison term of eight years with a five-year non-parole period. Following his sentencing, Lee sought to appeal his original sentence twice but was refused. In addition to his sentence, Lee was ordered to pay Cronin's family $170,972 by the Supreme Court of Victoria following a compensation claim by Cronin's family.

Of the other individuals who were charged in relation to Cronin's death, one had his charge dismissed, two received a criminal conviction and had to pay fines of $2,000 and $3,000, two were offered diversions, and one was ordered to be of good behaviour and make a $2,000 donation to the Pat Cronin Foundation. Cronin's family set up the foundation which aims to end the coward punch and educate people on the consequences of violence. The foundation presents its "Be Wise Education Program" to school students across Victoria in an effort to promote responsible decision-making from a young age.

  1. ^ a b Knopf, Ehsan (27 April 2016). "Mourners farewell Melbourne alleged one-punch victim Patrick Cronin". Nine News. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  2. ^ Korssen, Tiffany (18 April 2016). "Young footballer Patrick Cronin dies after assault at Diamond Creek". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  3. ^ Lafferty, Mick (15 June 2022). "Be Wise – End the Coward Punch". Whitefriars College. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.