Kerrigan’s Brother Pleads Not Guilty To Manslaughter Charge In Father’s Death

Woburn, MA, United States (AHN) – Former Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan’s brother, Mark Kerrigan, pleaded not guilty Friday to manslaughter charges in the death of his elderly father, it was reported.

Kerrigan is accused of fighting with his dad, fracturing the 70-year-old’s larynx.

The Chief Medical Examiner determined that Daniel Kerrigan, who died on January 24th, suffered from cardiac dysrhythmia at his home in Stoneham, outside of Boston.

“We allege that the defendant’s violent reckless actions and complete disregard for his father’s safety and well-being endangered Daniel Kerrigan’s life and resulted in the substantial harm that led to his untimely death,” Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said in a statement released by his office.

“This defendant should have known that the cruel acts that he committed against his elderly father, including grabbing him by the neck with enough force to cause a fracture, were highly likely to result in substantial harm and endanger his father’s life.”

“Compounding these tragic circumstances is the fact that we allege the altercation by the defendant began because he wasn’t allowed to use the family telephone late that night, a seemingly trivial issue that we allege triggered the defendant’s drunken rage and led to his committing the malicious acts that led to the death of his elderly father,” Leone added.

Stoneham police responded to a 911 call after an unnamed female called for help because Mark Kerrigan allegedly would not allow her to leave the house. The father returned home to help calm the situation.

Officials said Mark Kerrigan, 45, then started drinking and fighting with his parents over the use of the phone.

Daniel Kerrigan’s refusal to give access to the phone infuriated his son into a fit of rage.

“Sometime after midnight, the defendant came into his parent’s bedroom screaming obscenities and yelling about the telephone not working. The victim and his wife went downstairs to the kitchen in an attempt to talk to their son. The defendant then allegedly engaged in a heated argument with the victim, which escalated to a violent physical altercation where the defendant allegedly pushed, grabbed and shoved the victim, resulting in several pictures falling off the wall.”

“The defendant then allegedly forcibly grabbed the victim around the neck, causing a compression fracture to the left thyroid cartilage of his larynx, and the victim fell to the kitchen floor onto his back, unconscious. The defendant’s mother then called 911 and during her recorded call for help, the defendant is heard screaming obscenities at his father and yelling at him,” said a statement from the District Attorney’s office.

Daniel Kerrigan was rushed to Winchester Hospital and died an hour later.

The Kerrigan family is supporting Mark Kerrigan, who was released on $25,000 bail.

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