Pat Cronin Foundation launched in teen’s honour to raise awareness of one-punch attacks

A FOUNDATION set up in memory of teenager Patrick Cronin is set to be officially launched to raise awareness and conduct research into deaths from coward punches.

A FOUNDATION set up in memory of teenager Patrick Cronin is set to be officially launched on Monday.

It comes nearly two years after the 19-year-old suffered a fatal coward punch — the delay caused by long-running legal proceedings.

Patrick Cronin was killed in a one-punch attack.

With Pat’s killer now behind bars, Pat’s dad, Matt, said there would be no stopping the work of the foundation.

“We had to respect the legal process, but now it’s time to really get to work,” Mr Cronin said. “This is a community problem and it needs a community solution.

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“This is not just a Cronin family mission. It needs to be a mission for the whole of Victoria and Australia.”

Pat was killed as he tried to drag friends from a pub brawl at the Windy Mile hotel in Diamond Creek.

He didn’t throw a punch but was attacked by Andrew William Lee, who is now serving a five-year minimum jail term.

Lee unsuccessfully tried to have his sentence reduced.

Mr Cronin said the foundation aimed to educate the community, raise awareness and conduct research into deaths from coward punches.

La Trobe University, where Pat studied, will work with the foundation.

Mr Cronin is also fighting for legislative change to tighten coward-punch laws.

Laws introduced in 2014 to clamp down on one-punch ­attacks have yet to be used.

They promised mandatory minimum 10-year jail terms for one-punch killers.

Patrick Cronin’s parents Robyn and Matt with his brother Lucas and sister Emma. Picture: David Caird

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The Cronins had expected their son’s killer to be prosecuted under the laws, and prosecutors had filed a notice of intention to seek the tough mandatory term.

But they later withdrew the notice in a deal in exchange for Lee’s guilty plea to a charge of manslaughter.

It was a move that left the Cronins shattered.

Sentencing Lee, Justice Lex Lasry said it was the right decision, finding the ambiguous legislation could never have been applied in the case.

“Prosecutors prosecute the law, judges administer the law, so what’s the problem? It’s the law,” Mr Cronin said.

“Now is the time. Not later. We need to change now.”

patcroninfoundation.org.au

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