A Limerick GAA star received 28 stitches to face wounds following a street row nearly four years ago, a Limerick Circuit Court heard yesterday.
Medical evidence stated that Mr Brian Geary, a member of the Limerick senior hurling panel, was given two litres of fluid to replace the blood he had lost from wounds suffered in the row.
Kieran Barry (31), Carew Park, Limerick, pleaded guilty to a charge of affray at Ellen Street, Limerick, on April 1st, 2001.
Insp Declan Mulcahy gave evidence that Mr Geary and two friends, Mr Stephen Lavin and Mr Jason Stokes, had been celebrating with a few drinks after they had played in the Limerick under-21 football team's championship victory over Tipperary.
After leaving a pub, they decided to go to The Market nightclub in Limerick city but as they approached the junction of Patrick Street and Ellen Street, Mr Lavin was tripped by one of a group of four youths.
Mr Geary suffered a bloody nose after he was punched but he managed to defend himself and the four youths left the area.
The three Gaelic footballers then decided to try to gain entry to McGregor's Bar because they thought they would be refused entry to the nightclub as Mr Geary was bleeding. A bouncer refused them entry and the four youths came back again and attacked them.
Mr Geary was head-butted in the face and received several punches to the body while defending himself but he managed to get away and ran into the Old Quarter Bar.
Insp Mulcahy gave evidence that this was an unprovoked attack and Mr Geary had claimed he heard one of the attackers say he had a knife, although Mr Geary conceded he had seen no weapon.He said there was no suggestion that the accused had inflicted the facial wounds to Mr Geary.
Medical evidence was heard that Mr Geary was treated in hospital for a 5 cm wound extending from his ear to his cheek and a 3 cm wound along his jaw, which needed 28 stitches.
Evidence was also heard that the accused man had come forward voluntarily and no one else had been charged in relation to the street fracas which involved up to eight people, including one bouncer.
In a statement, the accused said he left McGregor's pub alone at closing time and saw up to three men whom he knew fighting with another group.
In his statement he said he tried to break up the row but he "got a few digs" so he retaliated and he "threw a few digs". He admitted that he had followed Mr Geary as far as the Old Quarter Pub but stressed that he had used no weapon other than his hands.
The court also heard that the accused, who is a father of two involved in a long-term relationship, had several previous convictions including larceny, assault and being drunk and disorderly.
Passing sentence, Judge Carroll Moran said he had taken into account the fact that the accused was pleading guilty to affray and that there was no suggestion that Mr Geary's injuries had been inflicted by the accused.
By his own admission, Kieran Barry had given as good as he got, said Judge Moran. He imposed a 12-month sentence but suspended the jail term on condition that he should be bound to the peace for 12 months.