Dublin player faces court over alleged assault at GAA match
A KEY member of Dublin’s five-in-a-row winning All-Ireland team will appear in court next week in relation to an alleged assault during a GAA match.
The Irish Independent can reveal that star forward Cormac Costello faces a single count of assault causing harm after being station charged over the weekend.
The footballer was a spectator during a game last year when he allegedly struck a player in the face.
The 25-year-old met with gardaí by appointment on Sunday as part of the investigation into the alleged one-punch assault during the club match last July.
It is understood Mr Costello was in the crowd and not involved on the pitch during the Division 2 AFL game between his club Whitehall Colmcille and hosts Naomh Mearnóg.
The game, a Saturday evening fixture on July 6, was being played in Portmarnock.
During the second half, an altercation occurred and a Naomh Mearnóg player was allegedly punched once in the face.
The injured footballer, a 23-year-old, suffered a cut lip and was bleeding.
He was treated for his injuries and a complaint was later made to gardaí, who launched an investigation.
On Sunday, Mr Costello was questioned at Coolock garda station in relation to the alleged assault. He has since been station charged and released on bail. It is understood that as part of the inquiry gardaí reviewed camera footage of the game.
The Dublin footballer, who is the son of the county board’s CEO John Costello, is now expected to appear in the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday.
He is charged with a single count of assault causing harm under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
It carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment on conviction on indictment.
Gardaí confirmed they are investigating the alleged assault of a man in his 20s that occurred in Portmarnock, Co Dublin, at around 7.15pm on July 6, 2019.
Cormac Costello has won five All-Ireland senior football championships with Dublin as well as seven Leinster titles and five National Football Leagues.
In his second senior football championship final he came off the bench against Mayo, scoring three points and playing a central role as Dublin claimed the Sam Maguire in the 2016 replay.