McCartan faces civil trial for alleged assault

DOWN footballer James McCartan is to face a civil trial following an alleged assault on a Westmeath footballer last May.

McCartan, who won All-Ireland medals in 1991 and 1994, has been charged under the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act (1997) after an incident in a challenge game during which the Midlanders full back Kenneth Larkin sustained a broken jaw.

The injury necessitated surgery and the insertion of three plates, in Larkin’s jawbone.

It is alleged that McCartan was responsible for the injury, a charge vigorously denied by the player, the team management and the Down County Board.

If found guilty, the former Allstar faces 12 months in prison, a fine of up to 1,500 or both.

Joe Rice, McCartan’s solicitor, confirmed that the player has received a summons to appear in a Dublin Court on March 3. But the Armagh based solicitor who has vowed that he, and his client, will produce a strong defence.

“James McCartan comes from a distinguished GAA family. He will be bringing forward witnesses to support his claim that he is not guilty of the charge against him. We want to take this opportunity to stress that, if necessary, James McCartan is prepared to fight his case before a jury trial.

"He was neither booked nor sent off during the game in question and is determined to prove his innocence,” Rice told the Sunday Independent.

There were no reporters or television cameras present at the game on May 25 in Newcastle, Co. Dublin and the action which led to Larkin's injury happened off the ball and was not spotted by Down referee, Colin Broderick.

Though this is not the first instance of a GAA player being charged with assault, the outcome will be viewed closely by Croke Park officials given the potential implications from such a high profile case.