The murder charges against seven people who were on trial for beating Dale Creighton to death on a footbridge in Dublin in 2014 have been dropped.

Five of the accused have pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and these have been accepted by the DPP.

Two weeks ago, each of the seven accused pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dale Creighton who died in hospital on January 2nd 2014 – a day after being beaten on a pedestrian footbridge in Tallaght over a stolen mobile phone.

When they were re-arraigned today, five of them pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

They are: Jason Beresford, Castledermot, Co Kildare; Graham Palmer, currently of Park Avenue in Portarlington, Co Laois; Gerard Stevens of Grosvenor Square, Rathmines in Dublin; David Burke of Beechpark in Collinstown, Co Westmeath; and Ross Callery of Gortlum Cottages in Brittas, Co. Kildare.

David Burke’s sister Aisling pleaded guilty to violent disorder and James Reid of Glen Aoibhinn in Gorey, Co Wexford admitted possession of a knife.

All of their pleas were accepted, which means the murder charges they originally faced have been dropped.

Their sentence hearing is due to take place on December 19th.