February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Like all sports worldwide, lawyers and judges are encroaching more and more on the GAA pitch these days.
Take a recent case in County Galway in which a district court judge asked the GAA to provide compensation for a footballer who was seriously injured during a football match last summer. He was struck on the jaw during a junior football match between Caherlistrane and Kilkerrin-Clonberne, at Caherlistrane, near Tuam, last June.
John Joe Greaney, 21, of Newline, Caherlistrane, was charged with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Michael Dunleavy, 35, contrary to Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
Greaney was remanded on bail to April 8 to see if some arrangement could be made to pay compensation.
Judge John Garavan heard evidence at Headford district court that the player was knocked unconscious and had to spend 13 days in the intensive care unit of a Galway hospital. He suffered a brain injury which prevented him returning to work and necessitated constant supervision.
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