A JUDGE criticised an inter county GAA referee and his lines man for "covering their own backs" at Navan District Court yesterday.
The criticism was made in a case involving a former All Ireland medal winner, who was found not guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in a Meath senior football championship quarter final tie last October.
Mr Andrew McEntee, a panellist on the Meath team in their back to back All Ireland successes in 1987 and 1988, was cleared by Judge John Brophy of the alleged assault on Ballinlough player, Mr Joey Byrne in a game between Mr Byrne's side and Mr McEntee's Dunboyne team.
The court viewed detailed portions of the match while Judge Brophy had previously sat through the whole video in chambers.
Mr Byrne in evidence stated: "I received a blow to the kidneys from behind. I turned and saw Andy McEntee jogging away, I pushed him on the shoulder. He stepped forward and bit me with his right hand. My two front teeth were broken in the incident and I fell to my knees."
Mr Byrne rejected claims by defending barrister, Mr John Boland, that if he was that badly injured be would have had to leave the field straightaway, but had in fact finished the match.
Immediately after the game, Mr Byrne was taken from Navan's Pairc Tailteann to a dentist where he was fitted with a brace and had other dental work carried out.
Mr McEntee, in his evidence, denied the assault. "The first I knew about the alleged incident was when a garda contacted me for a statement. I certainly did not strike the man.
Garda Brian Havern told the court that when he attempted to get statements from match officials, both intercounty referee, Mr Peter Fox, and linesman, Mr Pat Clarke, had declined, but insisted they had seen nothing.
In response, Judge Brophy said: "Both these officials refused point blank to help a Garda inquiry. I find that attitude disgraceful. In fact, their refusal to make a statement on the matter disgusts me. I believe they were covering their own backs over the incident."