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.

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A 37-year-old Newry man has appeared in court in connection with an assault that left Down GAA player Caolan Mooney in hospital.

Mr Mooney is in a stable condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

His brother Patrick was also injured suffering a broken nose.

Lee Daniel McKay is charged with affray and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to the incident involving Patrick Mooney .

Mr McKay, who lives in Australia, but who has an address at Drumalane Park in Newry, appeared at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The court was told that on Monday at about 02:30 GMT a mobile police patrol came upon the scene in the Merchant’s Quay area of Newry.

Outstanding suspect

It was alleged CCTV showed Mr McKay had not delivered the blow which left Caolan Mooney unconscious but that he had repeatedly hit Patrick Mooney.

The court also heard that there was an outstanding suspect in the case.

Mr McKay was granted bail, subject to a curfew and on the basis that he surrenders his passport.

He will appear in court again next month.

A forrmer Down Minor star, Caolan Mooney left Ireland for Australia in 2011 to play Australian Rules where he had signed a two-year contract with Melbourne side Collingwood.

He returned to County Down three years later.

The 26-year-old had been on the team that defeated Fermanagh in the McKenna Cup on Sunday.

Earlier, Down manager Paddy Tally said the team was “shocked and saddened” by the incident.

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He added: “Given the seriousness of the situation, we ask people to refrain from speculation or rumour about the incident.

“Caolan is a very important player and important leader in our team. He is vice-captain, he had an excellent year this year and we’re looking forward to him being back playing in Down colours as soon as possible.

“We hope and pray that he makes a full recovery and our thoughts are with his fiancée and his entire family at this time.

“Their welfare and their right to privacy should be fully respected.”

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A 35-year-old man has been charged following an assault that left Down GAA player Caolan Mooney in hospital.

Mr Mooney was reported to be in a stable condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast following the incident on Monday morning in the Merchant’s Quay area of Newry.

His brother Patrick was also injured, suffering a broken nose.

The 35-year-old has been charged with affray, grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He is due to appear at Newry Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 22 January.

On Tuesday, a 37-year-old man appeared at Armagh Magistrates’ Court charged with affray and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to the incident involving Patrick Mooney.

A former Down Minor star, Caolan Mooney left Ireland for Australia in 2011 to play Australian Rules where he had signed a two-year contract with Melbourne side Collingwood.

He returned to County Down three years later.

The 26-year-old had been on the team that defeated Fermanagh in the McKenna Cup on Sunday.

A second man has been charged in connection with an assault on Down GAA player Caolan Mooney.

The 35-year-old has been charged with affray, grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and will appear at Newry Magistrates’ Court on 22 January.

A 37-year-old man has already appeared in court charged with affray and attempted grievous bodily harm.

Mr Mooney and his brother were attacked in the Merchant’s Quay area of Newry in the early hours of Monday. He is in a stable condition in hospital while his brother suffered a broken nose.

An All-Ireland winning GAA player has been charged in relation to an attempted ATM theft near the border.

Daniel O’Callaghan, with an address at Monog Road, Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh appeared before Virginia District Court in Cavan on Friday morning.

The 30 year-old has previously won three club All Ireland medals and played with the famous Crossmaglen Rangers club in Armagh.

He was charged in relation to the attempted theft of an ATM machine in Virginia, Co. Cavan in August 2019.

Wearing a dark navy top and dark jogging bottoms, O’Callaghan covered his face with a white sheet of paper as he arrived at the courthouse.

He was arrested on January 6th in Castleblayney by Monaghan Gardai and members of the Special Detective Unit.

He was charged with the attempted theft of the ATM bank machine on Main Street Virginia on August 14th last year, and being in possession of a stolen CASE digger on Main Street Virginia on the same date.

He was also charged with entering the Lake House, Virginia as a trespasser on an unknown date between August 14th and 17th last year, with the intent to commit an offence or interfere with the building.

Gardaí told Judge Denis McLaughlin that when the charges were put to him just before midnight last night, he made no reply.

No application for bail was made and he was remanded to Harristown Prison for one week.

A 37-year-old man has appeared in court in connection with an assault on Down GAA player Caolan Mooney.

Mr Mooney is in a stable condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

It’s understood Caolan Mooney, vice-captain of Down is to undergo a number of scans to determine the extent of his injuries.

His brother Patrick was also injured, suffering from a broken nose.

The assault took place as the brothers waited for a taxi. A passing police patrol raised the alarm.

Caolan Mooney was initially taken to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, but was then transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast because of concerns of bleeding on the brain.

The 37 year-old who was arrested, Lee Daniel McKay who has an address at Drumalane Park in Newry but who lives in Australia, has been charged with affray and attempted grievous bodily harm.

Watch our report here:

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Inpho

A 35-year-old man has been charged following an assault that left Down GAA player Caolan Mooney in hospital.

Mr Mooney was reported to be in a stable condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast following the incident on Monday morning in the Merchant’s Quay area of Newry.

His brother Patrick was also injured, suffering a broken nose.

The 35-year-old has been charged with affray, grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He is due to appear at Newry Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 22 January.

On Tuesday, a 37-year-old man appeared at Armagh Magistrates’ Court charged with affray and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to the incident involving Patrick Mooney.

A former Down Minor star, Caolan Mooney left Ireland for Australia in 2011 to play Australian Rules where he had signed a two-year contract with Melbourne side Collingwood.

He returned to County Down three years later.

The 26-year-old had been on the team that defeated Fermanagh in the McKenna Cup on Sunday.

Image copyright
Inpho

A 37-year-old Newry man has appeared in court in connection with an assault that left Down GAA player Caolan Mooney in hospital.

Mr Mooney is in a stable condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

His brother Patrick was also injured suffering a broken nose.

Lee Daniel McKay is charged with affray and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to the incident involving Patrick Mooney .

Mr McKay, who lives in Australia, but who has an address at Drumalane Park in Newry, appeared at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The court was told that on Monday at about 02:30 GMT a mobile police patrol came upon the scene in the Merchant’s Quay area of Newry.

Outstanding suspect

It was alleged CCTV showed Mr McKay had not delivered the blow which left Caolan Mooney unconscious but that he had repeatedly hit Patrick Mooney.

The court also heard that there was an outstanding suspect in the case.

Mr McKay was granted bail, subject to a curfew and on the basis that he surrenders his passport.

He will appear in court again next month.

A forrmer Down Minor star, Caolan Mooney left Ireland for Australia in 2011 to play Australian Rules where he had signed a two-year contract with Melbourne side Collingwood.

He returned to County Down three years later.

The 26-year-old had been on the team that defeated Fermanagh in the McKenna Cup on Sunday.

Earlier, Down manager Paddy Tally said the team was “shocked and saddened” by the incident.

Image copyright
Inpho

He added: “Given the seriousness of the situation, we ask people to refrain from speculation or rumour about the incident.

“Caolan is a very important player and important leader in our team. He is vice-captain, he had an excellent year this year and we’re looking forward to him being back playing in Down colours as soon as possible.

“We hope and pray that he makes a full recovery and our thoughts are with his fiancée and his entire family at this time.

“Their welfare and their right to privacy should be fully respected.”

A CARLOW man replied “sorry” after being cautioned in connection with the alleged assault of Laois GAA player Daniel O’Reilly.

Two local men appeared before Carlow District Court when charged with the assault causing harm last week.

Brendan Keating (24) of 135 New Oak Estate, Carlow and 20-year-old Tommy Lee Thompson, 49 Springfield Drive, Burrin Road, Carlow both face one count of assault causing harm at Potato Market, Carlow on 2 April 2018.

On Thursday morning, Garda Daniel Ryan of Carlow Garda Station gave evidence to Judge Marian Walsh of arrest, charge and caution of the pair.

Mr Thompson replied “sorry” after being cautioned. Mr Keating made no reply when cautioned.

There was consent to the pair’s bail by gardaí with conditions. The conditions had been canvassed with the defendants and Eamonn O’Moore BL, representing Mr Keating, and solicitor Ed Hughes, representing Mr Thompson, said their clients had no objection to the conditions.

The men were ordered to sign on four times a week at Carlow Garda Station on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. They were not to interfere with witnesses and they must obey a curfew between 9pm and 8am. They were told to provide a telephone number to gardaí and be contactable at all times. They were also to allow gardaí to inspect their addresses to monitor their curfew at any time. The men were also to be of temperate habits in public.

Both defendants were asked by Judge Walsh whether they understood the bail conditions and the consequences if they failed to abide by them. Both individuals said that they did. Legal aid was granted for both defendants. The case was adjourned until 2 May.