The Laois senior football captain, Colm Parkinson, has pleaded guilty today to assaulting two men on a drunken night out.
Parkinson (26), from Meelick, Portlaoise, Co Laois was charged and pleased guilt in Athlone District Court to two counts of assault in the early hours of Sunday morning, October 24th.
The court heard Parkinson was drunk and attempted to assault one man in the toilet of Bozo's nightclub in Athlone, but missed.
He then attacked another man outside a chip shop on Church Street, punching him while he was on the ground.
Parkinson and two friends were subsequently arrested by gardaí in relation to the incidents.
The three men have all been charged with assault, breach of the peace and being drunk and disorderly. One of the others was additionally charged with impersonating a garda.
Parkinson's solicitor told the court that his client had only a peripheral involvement. "He had more drink than was good for him," said solicitor Mr Padraig Quinn. "An offer of compensation of €500 has been made, not in seeking to buy his way out of anything but by way of an apology."
The case was adjourned by Judge Michael Reilly until November 16th for sentencing.