Dublin footballer gets off with no criminal conviction for unprovoked attack

Warper · 28-10-2014 5:16pm #1

Another example of a completely shocking decision by an Irish judge.

From RTE
'Dublin footballer Diarmuid Connolly has been spared a possible jail sentence and a criminal conviction for an unprovoked attack on a man in a pub two years ago.

The 26-year-old All-Ireland winner had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Anthony Kelly, who suffered a fractured eye-socket at a pub in Phibsboro in Dublin in the early hours of 6 August 2012.

Judge Patrick Clyne said he was dismissing the case because Connolly had done all that had been asked of him through a series of restorative justice measures'

I think the shocking thing about this was he didn't even get a conviction purely because he can kick ball

hullaballoo · 28-10-2014 5:19pm

Warper wrote: »

Judge Patrick Clyne said he was dismissing the case because Connolly had done all that had been asked of him through a series of restorative justice measures'

.

Xios · 28-10-2014 5:19pm

Warper wrote: »

I think the shocking thing about this was he didn't even get a conviction purely because he can kick ball

Yeah, but that's like.... your opinion, man....

chrysagon · 28-10-2014 5:20pm

That Irish judicial system for u

dquinnan · 28-10-2014 5:21pm

Another fine GAA man!

h2005 · 28-10-2014 5:22pm

Warper wrote: »

Another example of a completely shocking decision by an Irish judge.

From RTE
'Dublin footballer Diarmuid Connolly has been spared a possible jail sentence and a criminal conviction for an unprovoked attack on a man in a pub two years ago.

The 26-year-old All-Ireland winner had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Anthony Kelly, who suffered a fractured eye-socket at a pub in Phibsboro in Dublin in the early hours of 6 August 2012.

Judge Patrick Clyne said he was dismissing the case because Connolly had done all that had been asked of him through a series of restorative justice measures'

I think the shocking thing about this was he didn't even get a conviction purely because he can kick ball

Is there any evidence that he didn't get a conviction because he can play football? Or are you just jumping to conclusions?

Egginacup · 28-10-2014 5:23pm

Warper wrote: »

Another example of a completely shocking decision by an Irish judge.

From RTE
'Dublin footballer Diarmuid Connolly has been spared a possible jail sentence and a criminal conviction for an unprovoked attack on a man in a pub two years ago.

The 26-year-old All-Ireland winner had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Anthony Kelly, who suffered a fractured eye-socket at a pub in Phibsboro in Dublin in the early hours of 6 August 2012.

Judge Patrick Clyne said he was dismissing the case because Connolly had done all that had been asked of him through a series of restorative justice measures'

I think the shocking thing about this was he didn't even get a conviction purely because he can kick ball

How do you know he didn't get a conviction because he can kick a ball? GAA is an amateur sport..you know....wageless, so it's not like he has a Ronaldo-type bank account to buy a verdict.
The guilty plea obviously came with a stipulation that he would avoid a conviction if he satisfied certain criteria. I can only guess but I would imagine that this was contingent upon the agreement of the victim.

Banjo String · 28-10-2014 5:25pm

I think the shocking thing about this was he didn't even get a conviction purely because he can kick ball

That's a possibility alright

So is this though.

Judge Patrick Clyne said he was dismissing the case because Connolly had done all that had been asked of him through a series of restorative justice measures '

Sunnyisland · 28-10-2014 5:28pm

If that was a Donegal GAA footballer he have gotten 10 years

:-)

wicklowstevo · 28-10-2014 5:30pm

a soft touch to be sure but sure your surprised ?

the only one who did well out of the whole thing was the solicitor as per usual

SEPT 23 1989 · 28-10-2014 5:32pm

playing gaelic football is punishment enough

BrianBoru00 · 28-10-2014 5:32pm

Warper wrote: »

Another example of a completely shocking decision by an Irish judge.

From RTE
'Dublin footballer Diarmuid Connolly has been spared a possible jail sentence and a criminal conviction for an unprovoked attack on a man in a pub two years ago.

The 26-year-old All-Ireland winner had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Anthony Kelly, who suffered a fractured eye-socket at a pub in Phibsboro in Dublin in the early hours of 6 August 2012.

Judge Patrick Clyne said he was dismissing the case because Connolly had done all that had been asked of him through a series of restorative justice measures'

I think the shocking thing about this was he didn't even get a conviction purely because he can kick ball

Far be it from me to defend Diarmuid Connolly but he was tried and convicted - his first offence I believe and was sentenced to community service http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0527/619981-diarmuid-connolly-court/

Having completed that, and not gotten into trouble in the mean time the decision was the probation act. Don't bother giving all the facts though.

BoJack Horseman · 28-10-2014 5:33pm

dquinnan wrote: »

Another fine GAA man!

The literal get out of jail card'

Richard Hillman · 28-10-2014 5:37pm

I am no fan of the GAA Mafia but even the lowborn on streets struggle to get a conviction now a days. Anybody can go out and beat the crap out of somebody and just say you are enrolling in an education programme, have a drink/drugs problem or the good old had a rough childhood.

eyescreamcone · 28-10-2014 5:40pm

Did he have Mick Galway as a character reference?
That usually helps!

Henlars67 · 28-10-2014 5:46pm

Pretty clear that the reason he avoided a conviction was because he carried out 80 hours voluntary work coaching kids, so it is reasonable to assume he got off because he's a well known gaa player. Disgraceful if that's the case.

I once hit somebody after "extreme provocation" (as the judge himself called it), and still got a conviction that I'll probably have forever.

Pity I gave up gaelic football. If I had trained hard and made the county team I'd probably have no conviction on my record.

BrianBoru00 · 28-10-2014 5:57pm

Henlars67 wrote: »

Pretty clear that the reason he avoided a conviction was because he carried out 80 hours voluntary work coaching kids, so it is reasonable to assume he got off because he's a well known gaa player. Disgraceful if that's the case.

I once hit somebody after "extreme provocation" (as the judge himself called it), and still got a conviction that I'll probably have forever.

Pity I gave up gaelic football. If I had trained hard and made the county team I'd probably have no conviction on my record.

A pretty lazy analysis . . . A quick search online will throw up several cases where those convicted were sentenced to community service with no evidence of having a "GAA Background" - but again its After Hours so whinge away about the big bad GAA.

Philo Beddoe · 28-10-2014 6:02pm

He may or may not have avoided a punitive sentence because he's a Dublin footballer, but his status has definitely helped him on After Hours. Around half the posts are supportive of him, or the sentence, quite a change from the 90% "hang the scum in the public square/this country's gone mad" arse-roaring you usually get on crime threads.

Generic Dreadhead · 28-10-2014 6:04pm

Ah it's like secondary school all over again

Putin · 28-10-2014 6:07pm

hullaballoo wrote: »

Judge Patrick Clyne said he was dismissing the case because Connolly had done all that had been asked of him through a series of restorative justice measures'

Which is another way of saying, he really didn't want to send a Dublin Footballer to prison and was glad he didn't have to.

How Soon Is Now · 28-10-2014 6:09pm

If he played for any other County in Ireland it would be "Gaa player avoids sentence"

Them Dublin scumbag s getting away with murder as usual!

seamus · 28-10-2014 6:16pm

Putin wrote: »

Which is another way of saying, he really didn't want to send a Dublin Footballer to prison and was glad he didn't have to.

Where does it say that?

It says that he was asked to do a number of things in lieu of a prison or suspended sentence, and he did all of these things. Therefore he got no sentence.

Tbh, it seems like a perfectly fair outcome in this case. He straight up apologised unreservedly, pleaded guilty and met with the victim who accepted the apology.
He also paid a greater fine than could be issued in law, completed more community service than he had to and attended anger management classes.

It seems to me that there is no need to impose a sentence - the purpose of the justice system is not to exact revenge or to punish blindly, but to seek to ensure (through punishment) that the offender understands the gravity of their actions and pays their debt to society in kind.

Dionysius2 · 28-10-2014 6:17pm

Was this before the regular judge in this court or was there some juggling to get it before a certain judge ?

MRnotlob606 · 28-10-2014 6:19pm

His uncle taught me in cool. Another tough guy like his nephew.let him off sure

Sunnyisland · 28-10-2014 6:20pm

MRnotlob606 wrote: »

His uncle taught me in cool. Another tough guy like his nephew.let him off sure

You must not have learned very well .

RDM_83 again · 28-10-2014 6:21pm

seamus wrote: »

Where does it say that?

It says that he was asked to do a number of things in lieu of a prison or suspended sentence, and he did all of these things. Therefore he got no sentence.

Tbh, it seems like a perfectly fair outcome in this case. He straight up apologised unreservedly, pleaded guilty and met with the victim who accepted the apology.
He also paid a greater fine than could be issued in law, completed more community service than he had to and attended anger management classes.

It seems to me that there is no need to impose a sentence - the purpose of the justice system is not to exact revenge or to punish blindly, but to seek to ensure (through punishment) that the offender understands the gravity of their actions and pays their debt to society in kind.

Thats a fine explanation for not imposing a custodial sentence, Its a terrible argument for not giving a criminal conviction.

Rubberchikken · 28-10-2014 6:24pm

Maybe he showed how remorseful he was and if the judge is happy with that then thats a practical decision to make.
What would be gained locking him up.
Hopefully he's learned from it .

seamus · 28-10-2014 6:25pm

RDM_83 again wrote: »

Thats a fine explanation for not imposing a custodial sentence, Its a terrible argument for not giving a criminal conviction.

Not really.

What's the purpose of a criminal conviction?

How Soon Is Now · 28-10-2014 6:26pm

Imagine the extra waffle that will be heard if and when he wins Dublin a big game over the next year!

blackwhite · 28-10-2014 6:27pm

seamus wrote: »

Not really.

What's the purpose of a criminal conviction?

Having a legal record of Connolly acting like a violent thug would be one, in the event that he was involved in a similar incident in the future.

suicide_circus · 28-10-2014 6:30pm

"I knew his father", "family well respected in the community", "heavily involved in the GAA"

Dublin footballer gets off with no criminal conviction for unprovoked attack

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