Man broke a rival player's jaw during match, Dundalk court heard
A south Armagh man who broke the jaw of a rival player during a Summer football league final in north Louth, was given a 12 month suspended sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court last Friday.
Michael Reel (31) with an address at Barna Park, Meigh pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm at Ballymakellett, Ravensdale on August 30th 2019.
The court heard how the referee had warned the two men that they would both be heading for an early shower following an earlier incident, and while they were contesting a high ball from a kick-out, the victim of the assault’s elbow connected with the defendant’s face.
In response, Michael Reel landed a single punch – fracturing the injured party’s jaw, which saw him being referred to St. James’s hospital where he underwent surgery to have three plates fitted.
The victim’s jaw was wired for a month as a result and in an impact statement, he said he had to stop contact sports as a result as his surgeon had warned that a further injury might result in permanent damage.
The defendant, who had no previous convictions, told gardai the ball was only half way up, when he was hit in the left eye by the complainant and he was 100% sure he was going to be hit again.
The court heard €7,000 had been accepted by the victim, who had withdrawn his complaint when the case was still before the district court, but Judge Eirinn McKiernan had refused jurisdiction on the basis of the medical report.
Judge Dara Hayes, in suspending the 12 month sentence in full on the defendant entering a good behaviour bond, said it seems to have been an isolated incident for which he was truly remorseful.