GAA player found guilty of assaulting opponent after punching him and damaging teeth

A Wicklow GAA club player has been found guilty of punching an opponent in the face and damaging several of his victim’s teeth during a competitive match five years ago.

A jury of seven men and five women convicted Billy Cullen (39) of a single charge of assault causing harm contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 following a two-day trial at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court.

The violent incident had occurred during a Wicklow Division One league match between Blessington and Baltinglass at the grounds of Blessington GAA club on June 9th, 2019.

Cullen of Lathaleere, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, who was playing for his local GAA club had pleaded not guilty to the charge of assaulting Blessington midfielder, Kevin Rogers, during play with a punch to the face.

The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict following two hours of deliberation.

The trial at Bray Courthouse heard that Cullen claimed he was acting in self-defence after he had been fouled by Mr Rogers when he was bearing down on goal.

However, the defendant had told gardaí in 2019 that he believed his opponent had incurred his injuries when he accidentally came in contact with the back of the head of one of his own players after the breakout of “a general melee” over his interaction with Mr Rogers.

The incident between the two players happened during the second half of the match when Blessington were ahead in the game which they ultimately won.

Video footage shown at the trial captured some of the incident which occurred after play had continued despite the referee having blown the whistle for a foul involving other players.

In evidence, Mr Rogers described shouldering the accused who then feinted a punch at him.

The Blessington player