World boxing champion Eamonn Magee's career was ended after a neighbourhood row over a snowman erupted in violence, a court heard today.
Mr Joseph Clarke (52) allegedly beat Mr Magee's legs up to 20 times with a three foot-long baton as he sought revenge for a drunken headbutt by the fighter at his home near west Belfast, the court heard.
Mr Clarke, a mechanic, had been feuding with the 32-year-old WBU welterweight champion for years, Northern Ireland High Court was told. But the simmering dispute between the two families turned vicious late last month, Crown lawyers said.
Barrister Ms Kate McKay said: "There was an accusation that Eamonn Magee's children had damaged a snowman made by the applicant's children."
Mr Clarke then called at Mr Magee's household to complain about the children and reached an agreement that they would be disciplined, the court heard. But tempers later flared after the boxer's wife and Mr Clarke's partner allegedly rowed.
Ms McKay said the boxer, who had been drinking, then went to Mr Clarke's home and head-butted him in a scuffle on the front lawn of his home in Lagmore Dale in the Poleglass district of west Belfast.
After Mr Magee was driven from the scene, Mr Clarke allegedly chased after him in another car. Ms McKay said Mr Clarke and another unidentified man allegedly got out of their vehicle with cudgels and smashed the front windows of the car and then attacked Mr Magee, smashing his leg.
Mr Magee, who had been lined up for a major fight next month, has admitted the broken leg and punctured lung he sustained mean he will never be back in the ring again.
Despite concerns expressed by the Crown that Mr Clarke could attempt to make contact with a crucial witness who was in the car with Mr Magee, Lord Justice McCollum granted bail.