Brother of man charged with murdering teenager Patrick Cronin in a 'one-punch attack' is fined $3000 after he admitted to harassing a witness

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A man has admitted to harassing a witness after his younger brother was charged with the one-punch murder of a teen.

Brendan Lee, 37, has been fined $3000 after he pressured a witness to withdraw his police statement - just hours after his younger brother was charged with the murder of Patrick Cronin, 19.

Mr Cronin was acting as a mediator after a brawl when he was hit and suffered fatal head injuries, police say, outside the Windy Mile pub in Diamond Creek, north-east Melbourne, on April 16.

Brendan Lee's brother Andrew Lee, 33, is charged with his murder.

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Brendan Lee (L) has been fined after admitting to harassing a witness after his brother Andrew Lee (R) was charged with the murder of Patrick Cronin, 19 

Brendan Lee sent a mutual friend to one witness’ house three nights later, the same night his brother was charged with murder.

The friend asked the witness, 42, to go to a nearby park, where Lee was waiting with three other men, a court heard on Wednesday.

Lee, who had known the witness since the 1990s, made sure he did not have his phone with him.

He said he knew police had been to see the witness, and warned the man’s house could be ‘bugged’.

Lee told the man he could be charged with affray and suggested he contact a lawyer, who would help retract his statement.

Patrick Cronin (pictured) died in hospital after receiving a fatal blow to the head while trying to mediate a fight involving up to 30 people

The tragic incident occurred outside the Windy Mile pub in Diamond Creek, in north-east Melbourne, on April 16

He said: ‘We all need to stick together for Andy’, the Heidelberg Magistrates Court, sitting in Melbourne, was told.

Lee pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one count each of harassing a witness and possessing explosives, in relation to nine large fireworks found in a search at his Yarrambat home.

His barrister, Philip Dunn, QC, said Lee didn’t tell the witness to lie, and did not threaten him.

‘The suggestion is he goes to see a lawyer,’ he told the court.

He was under immense stress at the time he spoke to the witness, Mr Dunn said.

‘People sometimes do and say things that, on sober and quiet reflection, they wouldn’t,’ he said.

Lee, a construction project manager, lived with his wife and two young children, and had no criminal history.

Magistrate Duncan Reynolds handed Lee a $2000 fine for harassing the witness and a $1000 fine for the fireworks, with conviction. 

Police said the 19-year-old had been trying to break up the fight, which is believed to have invoved up to 30 people

He also said Lee could be released from custody.

Lee had spent about two weeks behind bars after being denied bail on April 21.

His younger brother will reappear in court for murder in September.

There were more than 100 people at the pub at the time and police have more than 100 hours of CCTV footage to canvas.

In April, the court heard Mr Cronin had sustained significant head injuries during the pub brawl but returned to a friend’s house before being taken to hospital when his condition worsened, ABC reported.

'We didn't see any injuries, we had no idea anything was wrong until later in the night when it became obvious something was serious and we called an ambulance,' a friend told the court.

There were more than 100 people at the pub at the time and police have more than 100 hours of CCTV footage (pictured) to canvas 

The victim's 'heartbroken' family released a statement after switching off the teen's life support.

'It is with the heaviest of heaviest of hearts that we have just said goodbye to our beautiful boy Patrick John Cronin,' the family said.

'We have been overwhelmed with the love our son, and brother, has been shown and it proves to us that he has touched so many people with his wonderful nature,' the family said.

'As with his whole life he has put others ahead of himself and leaves us an absolute hero and star.'

Parents Matt and Robyn, brother Lucas and sister Emma said they took some comfort from the knowledge Patrick had helped others in need by donating his organs.

'Our hearts are broken but he will forever be in our hearts and he will be the one to get us through this,' the family said.

The promising AFL player had his first senior game alongside his sibling Lucas before heading to the local pub after the game when the brawl erupted. 

The victim's 'heart broken' family released a statement after switching off the teen's life support. Pictured: Parents Matt (L), Robyn (M) and brother Lucas (L)

'It is with the heaviest of heaviest of hearts that we have just said goodbye to our beautiful boy Patrick John Cronin,' the family said

The family said they took some comfort from the knowledge Patrick had helped others in need by donating his organs

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