GAA player jailed for punching opponent during football match is free to leave prison after successful appeal

A GAA player from Castlebar, County Mayo, has been released from prison following a successful appeal against his sentence for assault. Michael Prendergast pleaded guilty to causing harm to an opponent during a football match between Bohola Moy Davitt's and Davitt's GAA Club at Ballindine in September 2013. He was originally sentenced to two years imprisonment, with the final twelve months suspended. The Court of Appeal found that the sentencing judge had erred in principle by relying primarily on the injured party's account rather than the referee's match report when determining the context of the assault. The appeal court quashed the original sentence and imposed twelve months imprisonment instead, with the balance suspended on condition of one hundred hours community service. The court noted mitigating factors and character references submitted on Prendergast's behalf.