GAA assault case dropped by victim

GAA assault case dropped by victim


A Westport GAA player who sustained a fractured jaw and chin when he was struck by a member of an opposing GAA team has dropped a Section Three assault charge against  Patrick McHale of Gurteens, Ballina.
A court had previously heard that during a match between Ballina and Westport in the James Stephens GAA Park on May 27, 2012, Gary Keane of Fahy, Westport received a fractured jaw and chin and was on a liquid food diet for eight weeks.
Mr Keane took the stand at Ballina District Court to withdraw the matter. While on the stand Superintendent Joe Doherty asked Mr Keane if he had been put under any pressure to withdraw the charge, to which Mr Keane replied, ‘No, no pressure to withdraw this’.
Supt Doherty described the matter as a ‘very complex investigation’ with a ‘very serious injury’.
“A lot of Garda time was taken up. Up to 30 people were questioned,” said the Superintendent.
Answering Judge Devins’ question as to why he was withdrawing the charge, Mr Keane told the judge, ‘Pat McHale has agreed to pay compensation’.
Keane accepted that he knew he could be prosecuted for wasting Garda time but added that he took proceedings against McHale initially because ‘it felt right at the time’.