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New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 21, 23 November 1907, Page 32

An Irishman named Hickey, who was killed by a blow on the head recently, was found, on surgical examination, to have had a skull no thicker in some places than blotting paper. This recalls a story of an altercation between two natives of Dublin -at Donnybrook Fair. There was the usual exchange of shillelah compliments, and the skull of one was smashed. At the trial of the victorious youth, a surgeon testified that the victim’s temporal bone was as thin almost as an egg-shell. Nevertheless, O’Sullivan was convicted of homicide, and when asked if he had anything to say before sentence, he simply remarked to the judge, “ Yer honour, I’m sorry about this thing, but you heard what the doctor said about the unfortunate young man, an’ I leave it to yer honour, now, if that was any kind of a head to go to a fair with in Ireland.”