Former GAA star cleared on charge of assault

FORMER dual All-Ireland star Teddy McCarthy was cleared yesterday on a charge of assaulting a man in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Mr McCarthy, aged 38, was also cleared on a related charge of being threatening and abusive.

Inspector Martin Dorney said at Cork District Court the alleged injured party was out of the country and could not be located to give evidence in the case. He said he could not proceed with the prosecution.

The case had been listed peremptorily against the State by Judge Con O’Leary at the same court last month.

In that event, defence solicitor Michael Malone applied to have the case dismissed and Judge Con O’Leary agreed to do so on both counts.

He was accused of assaulting Derek Duffy and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour that could have led to a breach of the peace at the Crestfield Centre in Glanmire at 1.10am on January 1.