A Gaelic footballer who assaulted his team manager after a club function that honoured the manager for his achievements has been remanded in prison for a week pending sentence.
Declan Kelly (25), Pollagh, Tullamore, punched and tried to kick manager Mr Seán Cooney, just hours after Mr Cooney had been honoured for guiding the team to county championship glory. Mr Cooney received serious eye injuries in the attack.
The incident happened after the annual dinner-dance of Erin Rovers GAA Club, Pollagh, Co Offaly, in the Grand Hotel, Moate, last April.
Mr Cooney was returning to his jeep at 2.30 a.m. with a special crystal bowl presented to him for his role in the club winning the 2003 Offaly Intermediate Football Championship. Mr Kelly was a member of the successful squad. Garda Mick Donnellan and Garda Gerry White were on the street at the time and saw Mr Kelly walk up to Mr Cooney and punch him in the face. They also saw Mr Kelly try to kick Mr Cooney.
Athlone District Court yesterday heard that Mr Kelly had been told by his sister that their father had been involved in some sort of a disagreement with Mr Cooney at the dinner-dance.
This enraged Mr Kelly who went out onto the street after Mr Cooney. It later emerged that there had been no disagreement between Mr Cooney and Mr Kelly's father.
Mr Cooney's tear duct was severed in the incident, and he had to be taken to the Eye and Ear Hospital. Insp Tom Curley told the court that Mr Cooney still suffers from trouble with his eye and is facing another operation. Judge Michael Reilly described the incident as "a very serious matter", and added it might even have been dealt with at Circuit Court level.
He noted that Mr Kelly had €3,000 in court to compensate Mr Cooney, who has already run up medical bills of €2,252.97. However, Judge Reilly said that this would not preclude Mr Cooney from pursuing other damages through the courts.
The court heard that Mr Kelly acted "out of character" and was involved in the local GAA and soccer clubs. He was deeply apologetic for what had happened.
Judge Reilly said Mr Kelly had clearly benefited from "Mr Cooney's tuition" and he took a dim view of Mr Kelly believing he could act in this way.