Pair accused of assaulting GAA referee
Two men have gone on trial today, accused of attacking the referee at the 2010 Leinster Senior Football final at Croke Park.
Joseph Conlon of Marlbog Road, Haggardstown, Dundalk and Paul Grimes, with an address at Willowdale Bay Estate, Dundalk are charged with assaulting Martin Sludden on July 11.
An assault charge against a third man has been dropped.
Footage of the Louth V Meath clash shows referee Martin Sludden being pushed and shoved on the pitch following a controversial late awarding of a goal that saw Meath win the final by two points.
The accused, Mr Conlon, bowed and shook his head in court during a DVD screening of post-match events that Sunday,
Sergeant Shay Roche, who was policing the final, has given evidence that a number of supporters poured on to the pitch at the end of the game.
He said in a subsequent garda statement that Mr Conlon identified himself from DVD footage in a red t-shirt pushing the referee, but said that he had no intention of doing anything to Mr Sludden, except telling him what he thought.
