December 23, 2021 12.53 pm This story is over 40 months old

Darren Munnelly’s killer admits to manslaughter in court

Darren was found with a fatal head injury outside his home in July
Darren Munnelly (right) was found fatally injured outside flats on Carr Street in Lincoln, and the area was covered with tributes to him.

A man has today pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of popular Lincoln dad Darren Munnelly.

Declan Grant, 22, of St Mary’s Street, Lincoln, will be sentenced on January 10 after he admitted the charge of unlawfully killing Mr Munnelly, Lincoln Crown Court heard on Thursday, December 23.

Grant was originally charged with murder after Mr Munnelly, 46, was found with fatal injuries in the early hours of Sunday, July 26.

Darren Munnelly. | Photo: Facebook

But the hearing was told a plea of manslaughter was acceptable to the Crown Prosecution Service and the murder trial date in January would now be vacated.

Peter Joyce QC, prosecuting, said they were content to accept the plea to manslaughter.

Tributes line the ground outside flats on Carr Street, where Darren Munnelly was found fatally injured. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite

Mr Munnelly was discovered after emergency services were called to a property in Carr Street close to Lincoln city centre. He was taken to hospital with a serious head injury but later pronounced dead.

Judge Simon Hirst remanded Grant back into custody until he is sentenced.

Darren was seen as “a true westender” by those who were close to him. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite

But Judge Hirst told him: “You have pleaded guilty to a very serious offence. You will be sentenced on January 10. You know as well as I do that it will be a sentence of custody.”

Mr Munnelly cooked food and delivered it to people in need across Lincoln during the coronavirus pandemic. He was described by his family as being “so generous and so thoughtful to other people” and he raised £1,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support by completing Go Sober for October in 2017.

Darren’s death sent shockwaves through the city, and his funeral was a chance to celebrate his life. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The 46-year-old loved music and singing and was known for wearing a goat-skin fur coat. He was also an avid sports fan and supported Manchester United, and also loved to play snooker with his son Sean.

Also read: Mourners gather for Darren Munnelly’s funeral