A Galway Circuit Court judge yesterday gave GAA officials two days to explain why a player who suffered brain damage from an assault during a football match has not been adequately compensated.
Judge Harvey Kenny gave the GAA one year to make a gesture towards compensating the injured man when he first heard the case, which involves an assault during a match between Caherlistrane and Kilkerrin/Clonberne in 1998.
John Joe Greaney appealed to the Circuit Court last year against a nine-month sentence for an assault on Michael Dunleavy. At that hearing it was disclosed that Greaney, who was 21 at the time, hit Mr Dunleavy on the side of the head, knocking him unconscious. He spent 10 days on a ventilator as a result of his injuries. The referee, Mr Tony Melia, who witnessed the assault, sent Greaney off.
The Circuit Court heard previously that Mr Dunleavy suffered brain damage and was no longer able to work. It was told yesterday that Greaney had paid £17,000 in compensation to Mr Dunleavy, but the GAA had not made any move to compensate him adequately.
Yesterday, Judge Kenny said it appeared that the GAA officials were not concentrating on the matter. He ordered them to his court tomorrow.