Footballer ‘knocked out by vicious blow’
A SLIGO man has appeared in the district court charged with assaulting a Donegal GAA star in Sligo. Twentyfive-year-old Joe Curran, from Altons, Templeboy, appeared at Monday’s court sitting charged with assaulting Stephen McBrearty, pictured left, at Norbert Ferguson Parade, Sligo, on October 9, 2019. The alleged injured party ended up with a fractured jaw, the court heard. Stephen McBrearty told Monday’s Sligo district court that he was knocked out by an uppercut to the jaw while on a night out in Sligo town.
A SLIGO man has appeared in the district court charged with assaulting a Donegal GAA star in Sligo.
Joe Curran, 25, Altons, Templeboy, appeared at Monday’s court charged with assaulting Stephen McBrearty causing him harm at Norbert Ferguson Parade, Sligo, on October 9, 2019. The alleged injured party ended up with getting a fractured jaw, the court heard. Stephen McBrearty told Monday’s Sligo district court that he was knocked out by an uppercut to the jaw, while on a night out in Sligo.
He told the court that he could not remember the alleged incident as he was unconscious. “I am not sure because I don’t remember a thing.”
The 24-year-old told the court he was taken to Sligo University Hospital and then on to Altnagelvin about a week later. He added that he had to get four screws in his mouth for his injury.
He said it took time for his injuries to heal and “the screws were in my mouth but they are out now”.
He told the court he was not able to eat normal food for some time after the alleged assault. When asked by Judge Kevin Kilrane how he was feeling, the witness said he was “not bad” as it was in 2019, almost two years ago. When asked how he was feeling mentally, he said: “I have not been the same mentally after it and although there is not much going out with Covid I would be wary of strangers.” Judge Kevin Kilrane told the court that he would just about accept jurisdiction as it was on the higher end of the scale of offences.
Sergeant Derek Butler said he had looked at photographs and the alleged injured party was “knocked unconscious” from a vicious heavy blow.
Defence solicitor Tom MacSharry asked for the case to be adjourned for a month for a plea or a contest.
Judge Kilrane told Stephen McBrearty that the case would be going ahead in the district court.
But if it went to the higher circuit court there could be a wait of two to two and a half years. It will be dealt with sooner in the district court.
The case was put back to Monday, May 24.