A judge has dismissed a charge of assault causing harm against a footballer who assaulted a fellow player, leaving him unable to play football again.
At Tullamore District Court, Judge William Early said the single punch from Vinny O’Rourke (25), Killeen, Daingean against his team captain PJ Fay was proportionate to the threat Mr O’Rourke said he felt when Mr Fay grabbed him by the throat in the pub after a county final.
However, he noted the consequences were serious for Mr Fay, who spent time in St James’s Hospital in Dublin, where a metal plate was inserted near his eye, ending his football career.
Members of the Daingean junior football team were socialising in the Gaelic Bar, Daingean, on October 22nd last after losing the county final when the incident occurred.
Mr O’Rourke said his single blow was aimed in self-defence. He pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm.
Judge Early, deciding a single punch was a proportionate response in self-defence, dismissed the charge.
*This article was amended on September 12th, 2012 to correct a factual error.