A Co Tipperary man has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for the assault of Co Kilkenny hurler Mr PJ Delaney outside a Thurles night club 18 months ago.
Michael McCarthy Jnr (23), Galboola, Littleton, Co Tipperary was found guilty by a jury of assault causing harm to Mr Delaney and violent disorder outside the Factory Nightclub at Hayes's Hotel, Liberty Square, Thurles on September 19th, 1999.
The foreman of the jury of six men and six women returned a unanimous guilty verdict, on the fifth day of the trial, for both counts.
However, Mr McCarthy was found not guilty of assault causing serious harm, contrary to section four of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
In passing sentence Judge Yvonne Murphy said Mr Delaney, a gifted young hurler and an accountant, had been attacked without any justification. There were many things she would like to say but wanted to keep her remarks to a minimum for fear of prejudicing any future proceedings in this matter.
She sentenced McCarthy to 18 months and 2 years imprisonment for the respective offences, with the terms to run concurrently.
Inspt Bernard O'Neill, from Thurles Garda station, said that McCarthy had a number of previous convictions for assaults, and for the illegal possession of a knife, and public disorder.
McCarthy's counsel Mr Denis Vaughan-Buckley said his client was not found guilty of the more serious assault charge. While McCarthy admitted striking Mr Delaney evidence had been given that McCarthy had tried to help Mr Delaney when he was being stuck by others.
Many of the defendant's previous convictions for assault arose from an on-going feud. McCarthy's father had sustained serious injuries as a result of that bad blood, Mr Vaughan-Buckley said.
All-Ireland medalist Mr Delaney and five others from Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, were injured in an incident outside the night-club. Mr Delaney suffered serious injuries and was unable to work for several months and will be unable to play hurling again.