Dublin football star Connolly ‘acted despicably’, court hears
DUBLIN footballer Diarmuid Connolly “acted despicably” and “cynically avoided service” on him of personal injuries proceedings alleging he assaulted Anthony Kelly five years ago, the Circuit Civil Court heard.
Mr Kelly’s solicitor Robert Dore said Connolly had “brutally assaulted” Mr Kelly in McGowan’s Public House, Phibsborough, Dublin, in August 2012 and had later pleaded guilty to a criminal charge.
Mr Dore told Judge Jacqueline Linnane that arising out of “this vicious assault” in which Mr Kelly had suffered seri- ous personal injury, Connolly had been prosecuted. The case against Mr Connolly had been dismissed on the basis that he had attended an anger management course, that he had done community service, and that he had paid €5,000 to Mr Kelly who had directed the money be handed to a charity.
Mr Dore, whose proceedings were brought ex parte where Mr Connolly and ME Hanahoe Solicitors were not represented in court, told Judge Linnane that on April 24, 2015, the Injuries Board had made an assessment of damages against Connolly in favour of Mr Kelly for €46,815.
Mr Kelly declined this assessment given the serious nature of the injuries sustained. Mr Dore said a personal injuries summons against Mr Connolly was issued in the Dublin Circuit Court on November 25, 2015.
He twice wrote to ME Hanahoe solicitors, asking that they would confirm they had the authority to accept service of the summons on behalf of Mr Connolly. “I was most surprised... to receive a letter from ME Hanahoe…stating they could not accept proceedings on his behalf,” Mr Dore said.
Judge Linnane said she had no problem renewing the personal injuries summons (which claims damages of up to €60,000) against Mr Connolly for another six months and extending time for service of it by registered post on Mr Connolly at a Donnycarney address.