All-Star hurler to be sentenced for assault

AN All-Star hurler will be sentenced next month for his role in an incident for which his brother has received a three-month suspended sentence.

Tipperary star Cathal Barrett, 25, was convicted last month of assaulting a barman who had been sitting in the lounge of Hayes Hotel in Thurles waiting for a lift home from work. The former Young Hurler of the Year, and winner of an All-Ireland medal in 2016, had pleaded not guilty to the offence.

The case was adjourned on that occasion to allow for the preparation of a victim-impact statement. His solicitor, Patrick Kennedy, yesterday applied for a further adjournment, saying that his client was not present. He handed in a letter of explanation and Judge Elizabeth MacGrath agreed to the adjournment, with no objection from gardaí.

The Tipperary hurler’s brother, Brian Barrett, 31, had pleaded guilty last month to assaulting the barman, Dylan Kerr, causing him harm, by headbutting him in an unprovoked attack. Thurles District Court heard that Cathal Barrett grabbed Mr Kerr around the neck with his arm after the headbutt.

The incident happened in the early hours of May 27 last year, after the men had played a hurling match for their club.

Mr Kennedy said Brian Barrett had ‘expressed horror’ about what he had done and had attempted to contact the victim the day after the incident, when he realised what had happened. ‘He was horrified with his conduct, he can’t explain it,’ counsel said.

Brian Barrett has worked as a health and safety manager and has no previous convictions. Judge MacGrath sentenced him to three months in prison, suspended for two years, on his own bond of €500, and referred him to the probation service. She also ordered him to pay €200 to the victim for damage to his phone caused in the incident.