All-Ireland winning footballer James McCartan has paid €10,000 to charity to avoid a criminal conviction for breaking the jaw of another footballer, it was confirmed yesterday.
McCartan (33), from Banbridge, Co Down, was found guilty last November of assaulting Mr Kenneth Larkin during a challenge match between Down and Westmeath in May 2003.
When the case came up yesterday in Dublin District Court, prosecuting garda Sgt Gerard Feeney confirmed that €10,000 had been paid by McCartan to Portlaoise Lions Club.
The charity had been nominated by Mr Larkin, who is stationed as a garda in Portlaoise.
Judge Gerard Haughton dismissed the case under the Probation Act. Neither Mr Larkin nor McCartan appeared in court for the brief hearing.
During the two-day trial last November, the court heard that McCartan had broken Mr Larkin's jaw when he turned around and struck him with a clenched fist.
Judge William Early said: "To strike someone without legal justification is a crime whether it takes place in the street, in the family home or the football pitch or elsewhere."
He agreed to apply the Probation Act if McCartan made an offer of restitution to Larkin.
The €10,000 donation was agreed between lawyers for McCartan and Mr Larkin. Mr Larkin also undertook not to pursue a civil case for damages for the off-the-ball assault.
The GAA's games administration committee failed to reach a verdict on the incident in its first investigation and was prevented under GAA rules from carrying out a second investigation.