A GAA mentor has been jailed for assaulting a referee following a junior football match in Wexford last September.
Glen McManus of Cluain Dara, Clonard, Wexford punched the referee Michael Lanigan in the immediate aftermath of the match.
McManus was a mentor for St Joseph's GAA club in Wexford.
The 34-year-old was on the sideline for his club on the 25 September last year during a junior football match at St Joseph’s grounds at Whiterock Hill in Wexford town.
St Joseph’s were playing against Our Lady's Island in the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior Football Championship and Our Lady’s Island won by a point, 1-11 to 1-10.
However, when the match ended McManus attacked the referee, Michael Lanigan.
The referee had just blown the whistle when he was struck from behind.
McManus punched him in the back of the head.
The referee fell to the ground and landed on his back.
An ambulance was called but Mr Lannigan made his own way to hospital where he presented with neck injuries.
He was out of work for a number of weeks.
McManus also attacked a second person, Edward Harding, whom he also pushed at the match that day.
Both clubs condemned the attack at the time and said they would co-operate with the garda investigation.
McManus was subsequently charged with assault causing harm and brought before Wexford District Court earlier this year.
The Director of Public Prosecutions had directed summary disposal on a plea of guilty.
However, Judge Gráinne Malone said she did not believe it would be appropriate to have the matter dealt with summarily and did not accept jurisdiction for the case.
The judge deemed the case too serious to be heard at District Court level and sent it forward to the higher Circuit Court where the penalty for assault causing harm can be up to five years in jail.
McManus appeared before Wexford Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr Lanigan.
The second charge of assaulting Edward Harding was taken into account.
Judge James McCourt sentenced him at Wexford Circuit Court to 18 months in prison with the final 12 months suspended.
The sentence means McManus has been jailed for six months.
It is the first time a person has been jailed for attacking a referee at a GAA match.
