Attack victim gives his match notes to gardaí
‘I forgive them,’ says referee beaten up after game
THE soccer referee viciously assaulted following a match in the midlands on Sunday has handed his referee notes over to gardaí as part of their investigation into the attack. Daniel Sweeney was assaulted after refereeing a game in Co. Offaly between Mullingar Town FC and the home side Horseleap United in the Combined Counties Football League (CCFL). He sustained a broken jaw and damage to his eye socket along with other facial injuries.
Speaking to RTÉ News from hospital yesterday, Mr Sweeney addressed the individuals responsible, saying he forgave them for what happened and bears no animosity. ‘I would like Forgiveness: Mr Sweeney to see the day when a referee can go onto a football field, feel safe and be safe,’ he said.
‘I just want to say thank you for all the kind messages of support; it has been absolutely outstanding and overwhelming. I just wanted to say thank you to the hospitals that have been giving me great care and attention.’
According to the secretary of the CCFL, Chris Hand, the attackers have been identified and suspended, and will be disciplined. Gardaí have said that no arrests have been made and that investigations are still ongoing.
Paul Malone, secretary of the midlands branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society, confirmed that Mr Sweeney had handed over his referee notes to gardaí as part of the investigation. Mr Malone said the ISRS will need the notes back in order for Mr Sweeney to write his match report. After that, the league can start formal disciplinary action against the teams and players.
Meanwhile, Junior Sports Minister Brendan Griffin has met with John Delaney, CEO of the Football Association of Ireland to discuss the attack.
Mr Griffin said he was ‘appalled’ when he was ‘alerted to this disgraceful incident over the weekend’.
He added: ‘In all sports, referees are critical to our fixtures taking place, and no person who goes out to officiate a game should find themselves in a position of having to defend themselves against a sickening attack of this nature.’
Mr Griffin said he had played soccer for nearly 15 years in the Kerry District League and ‘never once saw as much as a hand being laid on a referee’.
He urged anyone with information about the assault on Mr Sweeney to contact Tullamore Garda Station.
Representatives of the ISRS are set to meet Mr Delaney tomorrow to discuss the incident and a possible review of the current one-year ban for assaulting a referee.
FAI to discuss issue tomorrow