Bohs footballer Byrne accused of assaulting Cork City supporter

BOHEMIANS Football Club player, Dessie Byrne, has been accused of assaulting a Cork City supporter during a match between the two clubs in Turner’s Cross last year.

Mr Bryne’s solicitor, James Lee, was looking for RTÉ television footage of the game yesterday to see if the alleged incident at the centre of the case was caught on camera. Mr Lee said that he had seen some footage of the match but that it seemed to transfer from one camera to another at the precise moment of the alleged incident.

Mr Desmond Byrne, 25, of Cherry Orchard Avenue, Ballyfermot, Dublin, is charged with assaulting a spectator, Robert O’Donoghue. The alleged incident occurred during the Cork City V Bohs match at Turner’s Cross, Cork, on March 24, 2006.

Judge Tim Lucey said that he was not going to make an order at Cork District Court directing RTÉ to hand over its tapes of the match. He said the defence solicitor should first find out what was available and then return to court in relation to the matter on March 12.

Mr Lee said that he made the application for the judge to direct RTÉ in relation to the matter as he said that he sought footage in similar circumstances in another case and that RTÉ would not produce the coverage without an order from a judge. Mr Lee said he asked gardaí for CCTV footage and he got what appeared to be RTÉ coverage and that there seemed to be a break between one camera and another at the vital moment from the point of view of the case.

Judge Lucey said, “Find out what RTÉ has, otherwise we are only flying kites and going on fishing expeditions.”

The case is not expected to be heard on March 12 and is likely to be further adjourned.