Dublin GAA player Connolly avoids conviction over assault

Former Dublin GAA star Diarmuid Connolly has avoided a criminal conviction for assault after paying €2,000 compensation to two men who were punched by him in what was described as an unprovoked attack on New Year’s Eve in 2022.

At a hearing last month, the 36-year-old from Collinswood in Beaumont, pleaded guilty to assaulting the men at Shantalla Road in Santry on 31 December 2022.

The case had been adjourned to allow him time to gather the compensation after he was ordered by the court to pay €2,000.

Judge Michelle Finan told Mr Connolly this morning that it was a “very serious incident” and she hoped he understood that.

The judge said she was taking into consideration the fact that he had pleaded guilty and that the two injured parties in the case had left court on the last day when they heard Mr Connolly was pleading guilty and did not wish to submit victim impact statements.

She said she would view it as an isolated incident but stressed to Mr Connolly that such behaviour would “not be tolerated”.

The application of the Probation Act means he will not have a criminal record.

Last month, the court was told that Mr Connolly had punched two men and dragged one of them along the ground in an “unprovoked” attack.

Garda Niamh Carolan said officers responded to an incident and attended the scene and two men had identified Diarmuid Connolly as the suspected offender.

She said one man said he was punched and dragged to the ground by Mr Connolly and that his jacket was ripped. She said another man who came to his aid was also punched in the face.

The court heard a later garda interview with Mr Connolly “was of a no-comment nature.” However, CCTV evidence from the area that night was obtained.

After pleading guilty, Mr Connolly’s solicitor Daniel Hanahoe told the court his client worked as an electrician and has two young children.

Mr Hanahoe said it was New Year’s Eve, and “he does not particularly remember how the incident happened. It was a regrettable incident, regrettable that he got involved in that situation.”

The solicitor said the second injured party was assaulted after he intervened and ran after Mr Connolly, who had not wanted the incident to continue any further.

The judge described it as an unfortunate offence, but she remarked that Mr Connolly dealt with it appropriately.

She noted he informed the prosecution he would plead guilty, relieving the witnesses from having to give evidence.

She told him to pay €1,000 to each complainant and adjourned sentencing until today.