A 15-year-old Laois youth who plays for the Clonaslee juvenile GAA club has been charged with assaulting a member of the Rosenallis juvenile GAA club during a hurling match.
The youth, who cannot be named due to his age, was charged with assault causing harm at last Fridayâs (December 15) sitting of Portlaoise District Court.
The alleged offence occurred on April 20 this year, at the Rosenallis GAA grounds.
Stateâs evidence outlined that during a match between Rosenallis and Clonaslee, it is alleged the accused ran at the injured party and struck him on the left temple with a hurl, rendering him unconscious.
The injured party was hospitalised with a blunt head injury. He was subsequently re-hospitalised on April 26 with suspected post-concussion syndrome.
After hearing the outline of the alleged facts, Judge Catherine Staines said she would accept jurisdiction in the district court, due to the accusedâs age.
The accused was granted bail, but the State requested a bail condition that the accused or anyone involved with him have no direct or indirect contact with any witnesses or anyone involved in the case.
Defence, Mr Philip Meagher pointed out that the alleged incident happened during a match with a large crowd present, so potentially there could be hundreds of witnesses.
Judge Staines said she would impose a bail condition that the accused have no contact with the injured party or any other witnesses in the case.
The judge also asked had the accused been given the option of receiving an adult caution in the case, to which the prosecuting garda replied that the accused had been offered that option but he declined it.
The matter was put back to January 19 next, for a guilty plea to be entered, or a hearing date to be fixed.
There is also the possibility that the case ma yet be dealt with by way of an adult caution.
A statements order was granted to defence in the case.