Pat Cronin death: Aron Burns, Gerrard O’Connor, Wayne McManus, Simon Buchanan face court over Windy Mile hotel brawl

It’s been a long wait, but four men involved in a wild Diamond Creek pub brawl that led to the death of a popular young footy player have learned their fate

Four Melbourne men have learned their fates for taking part in an infamous outer-suburban pub fight that claimed the life of a popular young footy player.

Aron John Burns, Gerrard O’Connor, Wayne Gilbert McManus, and Simon Jeffrey Buchanan faced Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court this week charged with affray for their involvement in the 2016 Windy Mile hotel brawl that left 19-year-old Patrick Cronin so badly injured he died in hospital a short time later.

Eltham North concreter Burns, 38, and former Diamond Creek Football Club captain Buchanan, 37, both pleaded guilty to unlawfully fighting and making an affray at the Diamond Creek venue on the evening of April 16, 2016, and on Monday received fines of $2000 each — Burns with conviction and Buchanan without.

Patrick Cronin, 19, was killed in a one-punch attack at the Windy Mile hotel at Diamond Creek in April 2016. Picture: Supplied

Greensborough plumber O’Connor, 35, and Diamond Creek electrician McManus, 38, pleaded not guilty and sat through a contested hearing that concluded on Wednesday with a $3000 fine with conviction for McManus and the acquittal of O’Connor.

The prosecution’s case relied on evidence from eyewitnesses Ashton Johannsen and Jesse Matthews as well as CCTV footage recorded from various vantage points at the hotel.

Eltham North concreter Aron John Burns received a $2000 fine with conviction after pleading guilty to affray. Picture: Instagram

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Andrew Williams argued the witness testimonies and footage proved both O’Connor and McManus used excessive force by throwing punches that night when other options were available to de-escalate the situation.

The court heard neither O’Connor nor McManus was directly involved in the coward punch that caused Mr Cronin’s death.

Father-of-two Wayne Gilbert McManus was convicted of affray after a three-day contested hearing at Heidelberg Magistrates Court. Picture: Kirra Grimes

O’Connor admitted under oath to punching Eltham Rugby Club player Samuel Judd in the face, and McManus was identified in the footage striking Mr Johannsen in the face.

The defence argued the footage showed both O’Connor and McManus acted in defence of others — O’Connor stepping in to protect his friend Daniel Paget after allegedly seeing him punched by the much larger man Judd, and McManus trying to break up several smaller fights within the larger fight.

Gerrard O'Connor exits Heidelberg Magistrates Court with his lawyer Sandy Robertson. Picture: Kirra Grimes

Magistrate Lance Martin dismissed the charge against O’Connor, finding he had believed at the time his actions were necessary to prevent Mr Paget from serious injury.

Mr Martin found McManus had mostly acted to “restrain a breach of the peace” but on two occasions — the offence against Mr Johannsen and a separate pushing and shoving incident — had “overstepped the line,” committing unlawful violence, either intentionally or recklessly, that would have caused a bystander of reasonable firmness to be terrified.

In sentencing McManus, Mr Martin considered factors including two prior criminal convictions and delays in resolving the 2016 matter.

A victim impact statement prepared by Mr Cronin’s parents was not considered relevant to McManus’ sentencing and Mr Martin denied the prosecution’s request to have it read aloud to the court.

“There’s no doubt [the Cronin family] has suffered a tragic loss and been profoundly affected and that that impact will last a lifetime,” Mr Martin said.

“On the evidence before me, Mr McManus was involved in two incidents, neither of which caused the affray or had any association with the deceased person.”

O’Connor’s barrister Sandy Robertson announced he would seek more than $20,000 in costs for his client, and Mr Martin agreed to hear the application on June 24 if not resolved beforehand.

Robyn and Matt Cronin established the Pat Cronin Foundation with a mission to ‘end the coward punch’ after their 19-year-old son was fatally injured in a brawl at Windy Mile hotel. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Patrick Cronin was an emerging senior player at the Lower Plenty Football Club before his tragic death following the Saturday night brawl involving about 30 pub patrons.

Among those charged for their involvement in the brawl were Andrew Lee who was convicted of Mr Cronin’s manslaughter in 2017, Joseph Hitchcock and Luke Sheahan who were sentenced in 2021, and Samuel Judd.

Mr Judd declined to give evidence against McManus or O’Connor when called by the prosecution on Monday, citing legal advice against potential self-incrimination.

The Cronin family was contacted for comment.