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.
The judge noted the unreserved apology, which was accepted by Mr Kelly during a hearing last year at Dublin District Court.
Connolly, who has recently earned his first All Star award, had also paid €5,000 in compensation to the victim, who in turn donated the money to the court poor box, the judge said.
This sum was considerably greater than the maximum fine the district court could impose, the judge said in explaining his reasons for dismissing the case.
The St Vincent's forward had also already complied with a court order to complete an anger-management course, the judge said as the case was finalised at Blanchardstown District Court.
In May, Judge Clyne, who had described the attack as unprovoked, had asked Connolly to do "80 hours' voluntary service at GAA, dealing with children, over the summer months, teaching them, coaching them".
The judge heard that the football player, who has no convictions, had completed 82 hours.
Connolly, who is ranked among the top players in the country, was on the St Vincent's team yesterday which won the Dublin SFC final.
He stood silently as the judge set out the reasons for dismissing the case.
In an outline of the prosecution's evidence given earlier, the court had been told that the attack happened at 3.40am in McGowan's pub.
"It is alleged that the injured party was socialising with a friend, it would be alleged that the accused assaulted him in an unprovoked attack," Judge Clyne heard.
Connolly, who has an address at Collins Park, Beaumont, north Dublin, "punched him in the face".
Mr Kelly, who is in his 30s, was knocked down and Connolly then "continued to punch him on the ground".
Mr Kelly suffered a fractured eye socket during the attack, but he has recovered, the district court heard.
Earlier, Connolly's lawyer had told the court that the All-Ireland winning forward "apologises unreservedly to Mr Kelly".
Connolly had also shaken hands with the victim, who had accepted his apology at an earlier stage in the case.
The attack happened less than two days after Dublin defeated Laois in a quarter-final of the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
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