Man attacked as soccer fans in pub disturbance

Shamrock Rovers fans looking for drink before a match in Cork City caused a disturbance in a pub and at the height of it, one of the visiting Dubliners kicked a local man in the groin.

Judge Olann Kelleher expressed concern that local soccer fans “cannot have a drink before a match in peace and fellas come down from Dublin...”

Eddie Burke, defending, interjected at that point in Cork District Court yesterday to say the man who admitted the assault felt ashamed of his actions.

Paul O’Brien, aged 27, of 33 Ferns Rd, Walkinstown, Dublin, yesterday pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to a middle-aged local, Tim O’Leary, at the Friars Walk Tavern.

Inspector Pat Meaney said the incident occurred at around 7pm on April 22, 2013. A group of about 10 Rovers supporters, moving with what Insp Meaney described as considerable momentum, came in a side door of the pub, which had closed its doors in a bid to prevent trouble.

The visitors were told they were not welcome. O’Brien then kicked Mr O’Leary in the groin.

Mr Burke said the fans were not going in to cause trouble, but said there was a serious amount of recklessness involved.

The judge asked: “What is behind all this behaviour?”

Mr Burke said: “They wanted to get a drink before the match.”

Judge Kelleher told O’Brien to do 220 hours of community service if he wanted to avoid a four-month prison sentence.