Courts / Mayo / Report

Hurling dad who ran at umpire 'swinging punches' gets suspended sentence

Summary

A father who assaulted an umpire at an underage GAA match, leading to the victim suffering a concussion at the hands of others, has been given a three-month suspended sentence. The actions of the defendant Michael Kelly – who has 20 previous convictions – at Clan na Gael club in March 2023 were 'not a true reflection of the GAA', Judge Orla Crowe said as she sentenced him today. The court was previously told how there were already tensions on the pitch during the match when Kelly ran at an umpire 'swinging punches' after his 17-year-old son got into a verbal disagreement with the victim. Kelly (41) of Sherrard St Lower, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to assault at the GAA club in Irishtown on March 5, 2023. Kelly did not actually strike the umpire, Paul Keane, but put him in fear that he would be hit, which allows for a charge of assault under Section 2 of the Non-fatal Offences against the Person Act. It is an offence which carries a maximum sentence of six months.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Hurling dad who ran at umpire 'swinging punches' gets suspended sentence. Charges or matters: assault at the GAA club in Irishtown on March 5, 2023. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• March 5, 2023 Incident
• 2026-04-13 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report