GAA star to fully contest nightclub assault charges

A HIGH-profile GAA star is to fully contest charges that she assaulted two women in a nightclub when the case is heard in May.

Ashling Thompson, 28 has been charged with assault on Aoife O’Flaherty and assault on Jennifer Coakley, on February 25 last year at the Secret Garden in Rearden’s on Washington Street in Cork city.

A separate charge of assault causing harm to Ms Coakley was previously dismissed because gardaí could not obtain medical records. Eddie Burke, solicitor for the camogie player, told Cork District Court yesterday that his client intended to plead not guilty to both charges. He told Judge Olann Kelleher he was seeking a date for a trial and the hearing would take up to two hours. Judge Kelleher fixed a date of May 1 for the hearing and remanded Ms Thompson on continuing bail.

Ms Thompson did not speak during the brief hearing.

The 28 year old has won four All Ireland medals with Cork; in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018 and three Senior Club championships with Milford. She received an All Star award in 2015 and 2017.

The camogie player had a serious car crash when she was 19 which left her with significant injuries. She was forced to stop playing sports for a period because of her injuries.

Ms Thompson, of Shinanagh, Newtownshandrum, Charleville, Co. Cork, has been profiled in the Laochra Gael series on TG4, which details the careers of some of the greatest names in Gaelic Games.

She was also nominated for Look Of The Year at the VIP Style Awards last year and has also spoken out in the past about how sport has helped people battle with mental health issues.

She told The Irish Mail on Sunday in an interview: ‘I firmly believe that a healthy body equals a healthy mind. That’s why it is so important to get young girls interested in sport.’