A JUDGE at Daingean District Court, Co Offaly, yesterday refused to hear a case in which a man pleaded guilty to assaulting an umpire at a GAA match.
Judge Aidan O'Donnell said he was adopting this course because he holds strong views about such incidents and felt he might be biased.
Mr Michael Usher, Derrycoris, Edenderry, Co Offaly, admitted assaulting Mr Denis Dunne at Walsh Island on March 23rd last.
Supt Gerry Murray told the court that Mr Dunne was officiating as an umpire at a championship game and when he signalled a goal against the team supported by the defendant, he was struck in the face and suffered a fractured nose.
Adjourning the case to December 5th, Judge O'Donnell told the defendant that he might stand a better chance of avoiding a prison sentence if the case is dealt with by a different judge.