A man was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for an assault on the Co Kilkenny hurler, Mr P.J. Delaney, outside a Thurles night-club on September 19th, 1999.
Michael McCarthy jnr (23), of Galboola, Littleton, Co Tipperary, was found guilty by a jury of assault causing harm to Mr Delaney and violent disorder outside the Factory Nightclub at Hayes's Hotel, Liberty Square, Thurles.
The foreman of the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on both counts on the fifth day of the trial at Nenagh Circuit Court.
McCarthy was found not guilty of assault causing serious harm contrary to Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
Judge Yvonne Murphy instructed the jury that they could supplement the lesser form of assault if they were satisfied that McCarthy's actions did not cause serious harm.
In passing sentence the judge said Mr Delaney was a gifted young hurler and an accountant who had been attacked without justification.
There were many things she would like to say but she wanted to keep her remarks to a minimum for fear of prejudicing any future proceedings in this matter.
She sentenced McCarthy to concurrent terms of 18 months' and two years' imprisonment on the respective offences.
On Tuesday, Mr John O'Donoghue (27), from Beechwood Lawns, Thurles, Co Tipperary, was found not guilty of causing violent disorder contrary to Section 15 of the Public Order Act outside the Factory Nightclub, Hayes's Hotel, Liberty Square, Thurles, on September 19th, 1999, at a sitting of Nenagh Circuit Court, held in Clonmel.
Judge Murphy directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty following legal argument from Mr O'Donoghue's barrister, Mr Pat Tracey.
She said she did not believe the facts showed Mr O'Donoghue had participated, aided or abetted anybody involved in what happened to the victim.
There was no evidence that Mr O'Donoghue engaged in violent conduct.