A man described in court yesterday as a town's sporting hero was given a 12-month suspended jail sentence when he appeared on an assault charge arising from an incident in which it was alleged he bit off a piece of another man's ear.
Gaelic football coach Paul O'Connor (21), with an address in Castleblayney, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Joseph Brady in the Co Monaghan town on November 22nd last.
Judge Flann Brennan suspended the sentence on the accused entering a bond to keep the peace for two years.
The court heard that the victim of the assault was paid £8,000 in compensation. Supt Tom Long, prosecuting, said the victim was unwilling to come to court to give evidence.