NICHOLAS O'Connor's today defended his 23-year-old brother's memory after Danny O'Connor was accused of racial abuse towards his killer.Mr O'Connor has also branded Dulu Miah, who admitted the manslaughter of his younger brother, as "cowardly.

NICHOLAS O'Connor's today defended his 23-year-old brother's memory after Danny O'Connor was accused of racial abuse towards his killer.

Mr O'Connor has also branded Dulu Miah, who admitted the manslaughter of his younger brother, as "cowardly."

Miah is now serving a three-year jail term as a result of an early morning brawl in Ipswich that ended in tragedy.

In mitigation, Miah's barrister Richard Harvey QC told Norwich Crown Court his client had been humiliated and provoked by racial taunts prior to striking the fatal blow.

Nicholas O'Connor's fury over Miah's claim, is compounded by what he believes is the lenient sentence given to his brother's killer.

The 32-year-old said: "I find it hard to believe that Mr Miah will be back in the community probably as early as next summer.

"My family will never get over Daniel's death, while he is already looking forward to an early parole.

"Mr Miah was cowardly to hide behind the race card as well. My brother had no racial prejudices, and had friends from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds including Asians.

"I don't think anyone in my family expected a life sentence but half a three-year sentence plus time off that for being a good boy, is a joke.

"I've never had a great deal of faith in British justice and have even less now."

During Miah's sentencing, Judge John Devaux heard Danny O'Connor and his sister Emma had left Zest nightclub in Princes Street and got involved in a row with Asian youths in the Cardinal Park area.

Simon Spence, prosecuting, said 23-year-old Miah, and Mr O'Connor had fought but neither was injured. However Miah followed Mr O'Connor and his sister to the corner of Silent Street where another fight broke out.

Mr Spence said: "Miah punched him on the chin and Daniel fell backwards, banging the back of his head on the ground and fracturing his skull."

Mr O'Connor died ten days later on May 12 from multiple organ failure brought on by the severe head injury.

Judge Devaux said Miah, who the court heard had showed serious contrition and genuine remorse, would serve half his sentence unless he was released earlier under supervision.

After the hearing, Danny O'Connor's parents Patrick and Theresa, who live in Ipswich, said: "Our son's life has been destroyed and the law says that serving a few years in prison is retribution enough. It is not. We call for a change in the law so that the punishment fits the crime."