Down footballer Caolan Mooney is in a "stable" condition after suffering head injuries in an early morning assault in Newry.
The 26-year-old had been part of the Down team that defeated Fermanagh in Sunday's McKenna Cup on Sunday before the incident that occurred in the early hours of Monday morning, where an ambulance was called to the scene at 2.30am.
The Irish News reports that Mooney was transferred from nearby Daisy Hill Hospital to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital where a spokesperson said he was now in a stable condition.
Mooney has tweeted from hospital to thank well wishers and said he is due to have a scan tomorrow.
Thanks everyone for their messages, scan in the morning to see if my brain has stopped bleeding. But happy new year everyone 🙌🏻🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/6CwkcHvuAh
— caolan mooney (@caolanmooney) December 31, 2019
BBC Northern Ireland reported that police have charged a 37-year-old man, Lee Daniel McKay, with affray and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to an alleged assault on Mooney's brother Patrick.
Patrick Mooney suffered a broken nose but a court in Armagh heard that CCTV showed a different, as yet unapprehended suspect, delivering the blow that left Caolan Mooney unconscious.
McKay, who lives in Australia but also has an address in Newry, appeared at Armagh Magistrates' Court today and was granted bail, subject to a curfew and on the basis that he surrenders his passport.
A decorated schools player and a Down minor aged just 16, Caolan Mooney left Ireland for Australia in 2011 to pursue an AFL dream.
Despite settling well in his new environment at Collingwood, the Rosstrevor native admitted he never fully took to the sport and returned three years later after just six senior appearances.
Mooney is known for his marauding runs from the half-back line his goal against Mayo during the summer looked set to give the Mournemen a shock qualifier win over Mayo in Newry, only for James Horan's side to prevail by five points.
