Man apologises for leaving Laois court before case for assaulting a footballer was called
The assault occurred on a football pitch in Laois in 2023
Sincere apologies were offered in court by a man who had failed to wait for his case for assaulting a footballer to be heard.
Two weeks earlier, David Macmahon (46) of 25 Woodlands, Coill Dubh, Naas, Co Kildare had paid over the remainder of €3,000 in compensation for a soccer player he had headbutted at Arlington FC in Portarlington on April 23, 2023.
When the case was called, Judge Andrew Cody was informed that the compensation had been paid in full.
Judge Cody said it was a serious matter and he hadn’t indicated an intention to strike it out on payment of compensation. He ordered that the defendant be brought back before the court.
“Why didn’t you turn up the last day?” Judge Cody asked the man.
The defendant told Judge Cody that he was under the impression that the matter “was resolved” as he had paid compensation in full.
“My sincere apologies…it was certainly out of no disrespect” he said at the sitting of Portlaoise District Court.
Judge Cody asked the man if he was working. The defendant confirmed he was and that he was employed in healthcare.
Judge Cody described it as “a serious assault” carried out on a football pitch.
He convicted the man and fined him €500.