Footballer donates to victim’s charities

Dublin football star Diarmuid Connolly has paid €5,000 to charities nominated by a man whose eye socket he fractured during an unprovoked attack in a pub.

Connolly, aged 25, has pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Anthony Kelly at McGowan’s public house in Phibsboro, Dublin, in the early hours of Aug 6 last year.

An unreserved apology, which was accepted by Mr Kelly, had been issued by Connolly’s lawyer last month during a hearing at Dublin District Court.