Football star broke rival's jaw with punch, court told

An All-Ireland-winning footballer broke the jaw of another player in two places during a challenge match, the Dublin District Court heard today.

James McCartan, from Co Down, is charged with assaulting Kenneth Larkin, of Newcastle, Athlone, Co Westmeath, on May 25 last year at a match between their two counties in Kildare.

Larkin told the court he was playing at full-back and McCartan at full-forward when the incident occurred. “James gave me a tug on the jersey in order to get out in front. I gave him a tug back. We both held onto each other’s jerseys as we were still moving up the field to try to get the ball,” he said.

The Westmeath corner-back intercepted the ball and cleared it up the field. Larkin said he and McCartan were standing on the 21-yard line while play went on up the field.

“James just turned, looked over his left shoulder and took a step towards me. He struck me with a clenched fist to the bottom of the chin. I immediately hit the ground,” he said.

The then Westmeath football manager, Luke Dempsey, ran out onto the field and confronted McCartan. Larkin told the court he heard Dempsey say: “What do you think you’re doing? He’s only a young fellow.”

McCartan replied: “If he’s not man enough, he shouldn’t be out here.”

Mr Larkin said he was in awful pain and blood was pouring from his jaw. “I knew straight away after I got punched that my jaw was broken. I could feel the bone shattering,” he said.

Larkin was brought to Naas General Hospital in Kildare where he was x-rayed and sent to St James' Hospital in Dublin the following day for an appointment with a maxillofacial surgeon.