UL men in court over soccer incident

TWO middle-aged academics attached to the University of Limerick clashed during a friendly soccer game on a college all weather pitch, Limerick Circuit Court heard yesterday.

One received a serious leg injury after he was punched to the ground by the other. The incident occurred on August 3, 2007, at the UL Sports complex.

UL lecturer Frederic Royall, aged 52, of Mountshannon Road, Lisnagry, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Hooman Reyhani, aged 43, who holds a PhD and worked at the electronic engineering department at UL.

Mark Nicholas, BL, for Royall said a case for personal injury against his client was due to go before the High Court.

State prosecutor, John O’Sullivan, BL, said the injured party, Mr Reyhani had already undergone five surgical procedures on his ankle.

Mr Reyhani, an Irish national with an Iranian background, told the court that when going down stairs, he has to hold on to the banister because his right leg, which was broken, is unstable. His left leg was now starting to give trouble because of his imbalance.

A previous sitting of the court heard that the defendant, Frederic Royall, punched Mr Reyhani during a six-a-side soccer game and he fell and broke his ankle.

Mr Rehani had never been in hospital before receiving the injury.

He will need further surgery later this year.

Due to the injury he has to wear a special ankle brace 24 hours a day and it is an almost permanent cast. He will have to wear it for another six months when he will need further surgery.

Arthritis has set in and he needed pain relief.

Holding a PhD he worked at the time in the electronic engineering department at UL.

Now he works as a consultant to a spin-off company of the electronic engineering department.

He travels to Cork and Dublin and Britain as part of his work and the injury had affected his ability to drive.

Mr Reyhani said he just wanted justice to be served. It was stated that Mr Reyhani has refused an offer of €10,000 compensation from Royall.

Mr Nicholas said they accepted the injured man had suffered a terrible injury and his client expressed his remorse at all times.

Judge Carroll Moran said that in the interests of justice and the injured party he would adjourn sentence until the High Court matter had been concluded.

He put the case back to July 27.