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19a Heather's dumped a boy, once fine (4)

I'm not seeking the solution to this clue, which is clearly ERIC. My question concerns the relevance of the final two words of the clue.

Can anyone tell me how "once fine" fits in? I would have thought that the clue could stop at "boy".

Does this help ?
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eric

Hi Zinc,

Heather is "erica" and with the "a" dumped it's Eric which is a fine paid by a murdere to the family.

Thanks Cerasus and Brendan. I'd tried looking up meanings for eric but had drawn a blank. I am now a wiser man!