THREE CO Louth men appeared in court yesterday accused of attacking the referee at last year’s controversial Leinster Senior Football final at Croke Park.
Seconds after the final whistle, referee Martin Sludden was confronted by Louth fans after he allowed a goal to Meath in the closing seconds.
The Co Tyrone-based referee later admitted he was wrong to award the goal, which cost Louth the Leinster Championship.
Yesterday Joseph Conlon (23), of Marlbog Road, Haggardstown, Dundalk; Paul Grimes (50), with an address at Willowdale Bay Estate, Dundalk; and Dermot Rodgers (44), of Belfry Gardens, St Alphonsus Road, Dundalk, appeared at Dublin District Court.
They had been summonsed for assaulting Mr Sludden at Croke Park stadium on July 11th last year. The prosecution has been brought under Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act which, on conviction, can result in a sentence of up to six months and/or a fine.
The three men were not required to speak during the brief hearing.
Lisa Cassidy, counsel for Mr Rodgers and Mr Conlon, asked Judge Bryan Smyth to make an order for the State to provide disclosure of evidence. She explained she was seeking “CCTV and TV footage of the alleged incident”.
Séan T O’Reilly, solicitor for Mr Grimes, also made a request for the footage “that gardaí may seek to rely on in relation to this matter”.
Sgt Shay Roche, attached to Fitzgibbon Street Garda station, in Dublin, confirmed that there was footage of the incident and agreed this included “TV footage”.
Judge Smyth made an order for the State to provide disclosure of the evidence sought by the defence lawyers by June 9th next.
He adjourned the case until July 7th when the three defendants are to enter pleas.