- "Me Ma used to hit harder than that!"
- — Brian O'Neill
Brian O'Neill is a main character and the tertiary antagonist in Mafia II.
History[]
Background[]
Brian is the boss of the O'Neill Gang and the grandson of Jimmy O'Neill, who at one time ran the biggest Irish gang in the city. It is possible his mother was abusive to him. After his grandfather's death, Brian succeeded the position of Boss in O'Neill Gang.[1]
Unexpected Encounter[]
He is first seen in Murphy's Law, where Vito Scaletta and Joe Barbaro were robbing a jewelry store, only to be interrupted by the store being ram-raided by O'Neill and several of his men, who also had intended to rob the same store. He apparently had been acquainted with Joe Barbaro in the past, expressing surprise at seeing him again. O'Neill then ordered his men to kill Vito and Joe, who drew their guns in defense. This was interrupted when police officers arrived on the scene, turning the standoff into a three-way battle where both gangs got into gun battles with the EBPD, as well as each other. Joe and Vito fled to the roof of the shopping mall, losing the police only when they tiptoed over an icy roof. As Vito and Joe fled with the jewels, they later witnessed O'Neill and some of his surviving gang members being handcuffed and arrested by the EBPD.
Imprisonment & Death[]
He is seen again in Hartmann Federal Penitentiary serving his time, when he noticed Vito, who was incarcerated for illegally distributing gas stamps, and approached him, determined to get revenge on him. Vito and Brian then exchange words and end up in a fight, which gets them both sent in the hole.
After some time however, Vito fell into favor with Leo Galante, the Consigliere to Frank Vinci. Vito was taught how to box and trained extensively with Leo's number one fighter Pepé Costa, who is himself scheduled to fight Brian. However, Brian had his goons jump Pepé, rendering him unable to fight. As revenge for this, Leo had Vito go to the prison gym, where Brian was working out by himself, to just break some of his bones to teach him a lesson.
Vito then began to beat Brian badly, thanks to the training he got from Leo and his men. However, midway through the fight, angered that he is losing to Vito, Brian pulled a knife and attempted to stab Vito. Vito was able to defend himself well, and turned the knife back on Brian, slicing his throat. When Brian began choking, Vito said, "Shut the fuck up!" Vito took the knife and stabbed Brian once more in the neck, instantly killing him.
Appearances[]
Mafia II[]
- Murphy's Law
- Time Well Spent (Killed)
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Brian's prison number is 19475.
- It is stated by Joe Barbaro that Brian usually works as hired muscle.
- Vito stated that the authorities ever found out who actually killed O'Neill. However, six years later, O'Neill's cousin Mickey Desmond torched Vito's home as revenge for killing O'Neill. This means it was likely an open secret that Vito killed Brian, but that prison authorities couldn't prove it.
- Brian briefly appeared in the Christmas Confessions trailer, when Vito hit him in the face. However, this scene takes place in some sort of warehouse rather than in prison as in actual gameplay.
- During the mall heist in the mission Murphy's Law, Brian O'Neill can be attacked, but cannot be killed no matter which weapon is used against him, or where he is shot.