Footballer who broke player’s jaw in game is convicted of assault
night I was at home, Bryan was also back home. He had a basin under his chin with blood coming from his mouth,’ he said.
P.J. Lawlor, who said he was Chairman of St. Mary’s at that time, told the court he did not see the incident as he was following the flight of the ball. He said that prior to the incident before the court the ball had gone over the sideline and Bryan O’Hara ran towards him, taking the ball aggressively from him.
In his evidence, defendant Larry Morrissey, said he played the ball off, went for the return pass, but was obstructed by Bryan O’Hara. He said when he swung his arm back to get free, he could have accidentally struck Bryan O’Hara in the face. He maintained he did not intentionally set out to injure anyone.
‘As I played the ball off, I ran for the return pass when a player caught me by the shoulder. I swung around with my arm to break the tackle. Afterwards I found out it was Bryan O’Hara,’ he said.
Replying to Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Power, the defendant said he attended a Disciplinary Meting of Wexford G.A.A. and was given a ten-match ban which was reduced to eight on appeal.
‘I accepted the ban. I was banned from playing football but I could still hurl,’ he said.
Robert Power, in evidence, spoke of having marked Bryan O’Hara that evening. It was quite a physical game, he said, and both of them had been spoken to by the referee during the game.
Replying to Ms Deevy, he said he did not see the incident involving Larry Morrissey and Bryan O’Hara.
John Devlin, who was at the game, said he saw the Bunclody player trying to stop Larry Morrissey with his arm outstretched.
In reply to prosecution counsel, Mr. Power, he said he did not make a statement or attend the disciplinary hearing.
After more than two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.
Judge Cormac Quinn adjourned sentencing to April 11, ordering a probation and welfare and victim impact reports.