Footballer accused of assault on garda player during match

A former inter-county Dublin footballer has gone on trial accused of breaking an off-duty garda’s jaw during a league match in Glasnevin nearly two years ago.

Brendan McMenamin, aged 30, of Cypress Downs, Templeogue, has pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Garda Enda Ledwith at Na Fianna GAA Club, St Mobhi Road, on March 31, 2012.

The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the incident took place during the last 10 minutes of a Division 1 league match between St Jude’s and Na Fianna.

Diarmuid Collins BL, prosecuting, told the jury Mr McMenamin claimed Garda Ledwith had hit him in the testicles before the incident.

Garda Ledwith, a former Longford player, refuted that allegation and said he would have hit him at chest height but not in the testicles.