Gardaí set to question fans over referee confrontation
Officers are completing the formal identification of the main suspects and will then interview them, either voluntarily or under arrest.
While up to six men are facing the possibility of minor assault charges, at least two of them face the prospect of more serious assault charges.
Mr Sludden has already given investigating gardaí a formal statement and the garda team has completed its examination of CCTV footage in Croke Park and television coverage.
“The time at the moment is taken up identifying the people on the pitch involved,” said a garda source.
“Mr Sludden has already cooperated, but we have to formally identify the individuals before we go knocking on doors.” As part of the identification process, gardaí need people to formally identify individuals as those involved in the alleged assault.
Gardaí said the process should be completed in the “next few weeks” and would not “drag on”.
Garda sources said their initial approach would be to interview the suspects voluntarily. However, depending on their reaction, gardaí will arrest them if necessary.
Up to six suspects are being investigated and could face minor assault charges under section 2 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act 1997.
Under that act, a person is guilty of assault if he or she “directly or indirectly applies force” which causes an impact on another person or causes another person to believe he or she is “likely immediately” to be assaulted. Such a person can face up to six months in prison.
However, some may face charges for assault causing harm under section 3 of the same act. It’s likely that if individuals are charged with this offence, it will also be at district court level, with a maximum punishment of up to a year in prison.
Gardaí stress it will be up to the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine whether or not charges should be brought and, if so, what charges.
The alleged assaults took place during a pitch invasion at the end of the final in which Mr Sludden awarded Meath a last-minute goal, snatching victory from Louth, who were in their first provincial final in 53 years.
The incident raised once again the issue of pitch security at Croke Park. The GAA has said it will install a 10ft barrier in front of Hill 16 by the time of the second football semi-final, between Kildare and Down, on August 29. Garda sources said they will wait and see what effect this has for the hurling and football finals. They pointed out that no similar barrier was being erected in front of the Cusack, Hogan and Davin stands.
