Dundalk Court: Community service for player who attacked referee

A 25 year old man who attacked a referee in a North East Football League Division One match was last week sentenced at Dundalk District Court to 150 hours community service.

Gledson Marinho Dos Reis of Chestnut Court, Johnstown Village, Navan had pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm arising out of the incident, where he kicked the match official as local club Bay United were playing Sporting Ballyjamesduff.

Last month, the court heard the referee told gardai that when he blew his whistle to abandon the match at Dundalk Sports Centre, Tom Bellew Avenue, Dundalk on April 6th last year, he could feel studs and was winded and felt a soreness to his right ribs.

At an earlier hearing to deal with jurisdiction, the victim said he got a kick and that the player “ran the length of the pitch to get to me”.

He sustained bruising on an upper arm and to his ribs and found it very hard to breathe.

The injured party said a video of the incident had gone viral by the time he went to Dundalk Garda Station that night to make a complaint and what happened had affected his mental health, and he had to take time off work.

The defendant, who had 24 previous convictions for road traffic offences, had €1,000 in court and his barrister stressed that the meat factory worker had been banned from playing football for seven years, which he added is a sport that he loves.

Judge McKiernan said it was a serious matter that “cannot be tolerated at any level” and added "It's no wonder people don't want to do the job anymore".

The case was put back for the preparation of a Probation report and when it was called Judge McKiernan noted he had been deemed suitable to perform community service and imposed 150 hours in lieu of a two month sentence.