Ireland Man charged with GAA referee assault in Roscommon adjourned to circuit court
James Kenny, 40, a GAA club volunteer from Ballyforan, was charged with assaulting referee Kevin Naughton during an under-17 championship match at Ballyforan GAA grounds on 31 August 2022. The referee was knocked unconscious, suffered neck and soft tissue injuries, and was taken to hospital by ambulance, and was released the following day. Roscommon GAA's Competitions Control Committee proposed a 96-week ban, and referees across the county withdrew in protest, causing all games to be postponed. The case was heard at Ballinasloe District Court on 22 June 2023, where the judge said the matter would be dealt with in the circuit court and adjourned it to 27 July.
- Reported1 Sep
6 reports - Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court22 Jun
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A GAA club volunteer allegedly walked onto the pitch and assaulted referee Kevin Naughton during an under-17 championship match.
- The referee was knocked unconscious, suffered neck and soft tissue injuries, and was taken to Portiuncula Hospital by ambulance.
- The referee was released from hospital the following day.
- Where
- The incident occurred at Ballyforan GAA grounds, Roscommon.
- When
- The incident took place on 31 August 2022, 30 seconds into the second half.
- Cause
- The referee had received abuse from the sideline and went to deal with it.
- Investigation
- Roscommon GAA's Competitions Control Committee conducted a full investigation into the incident.
- Charges
- James Kenny, 40, was charged with a Section 2 assault.
- In court
- The case was heard at Ballinasloe District Court on 22 June 2023.
- The judge said the matter would be dealt with in the circuit court and adjourned the case to 27 July.
- Sentence
- The judge said Kenny would have faced six months in prison if the case were dealt with that day.
- Other details
- The Competitions Control Committee proposed a 96-week ban for the alleged assault.
- All GAA games in Roscommon were postponed on 16-18 September after referees withdrew in protest.
71 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe referee was hospitalised after the alleged assault in the second half (extra.ie)
- whatThe referee required medical attention as a result of the incident. (longfordleader.ie, leitrimobserver.ie)
- whatFootage showed the referee lying on the pitch and receiving medical attention. (longfordleader.ie, leitrimobserver.ie)
- whatThe incident took place in a U17 football match played on Wednesday evening. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- whatA referee was allegedly assaulted during an under-17 Championship GAA match (extra.ie)
- whatThe referee required medical attention and was taken to hospital (extra.ie)
- whatThe alleged assault occurred during an under-17 GAA championship match (extra.ie)
- whatThe referee was hospitalised after the incident (extra.ie)
- whatThe referee was released from hospital the following day (extra.ie)
- whatThe match was abandoned after the incident (extra.ie)
- whatA video showed the referee lying face down on the pitch (extra.ie)
- whatThe referee required medical attention in the second half of the match (extra.ie)
- whatA man allegedly walked onto the pitch and assaulted a referee (extra.ie)
- whatThe referee was knocked out by the assault (extra.ie)
- whatThe referee was taken to hospital by ambulance (extra.ie)
- whatThe referee has since been released from hospital (extra.ie)
- whatA GAA club volunteer was given a proposed 96-week ban by the Competitions Control Committee for allegedly assaulting referee Kevin Naughton (extra.ie)
- whatA sideline video showed an official walking on to the pitch but did not capture the assault seconds later (extra.ie)
- whatThe video shows the official walking off the pitch while the referee is lying motionless on the ground (extra.ie)
- whatAn ambulance was called for Kevin Naughton and the match was abandoned (extra.ie)
- whatKevin Naughton was released from hospital the next day (extra.ie)
- whatA first offence carries a minimum suspension of 48 weeks (extra.ie)
- whatAll GAA games in Roscommon were postponed on the weekend of September 16–18 after referees withdrew their services in protest (extra.ie)
- whatA referee was knocked unconscious after being assaulted at a GAA match in Co Roscommon. (rte.ie)
- whatThe referee was knocked to the ground when an official made contact with him. (rte.ie)
- whatThe referee said he lost consciousness. (rte.ie)
- whatThe referee suffered neck and soft tissue injuries. (rte.ie)
- whatThe referee has lost interest in the GAA and refereeing and has not attended a GAA ground since the incident. (rte.ie)
- whatThe referee said he suffers from anxiety, is receiving counselling and is on medication. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred in Ballyforan, Roscommon (extra.ie)
- whereThe match was played in Ballyforan, Roscommon. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe game was played in Ballyforan in Roscommon. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at an under-17s GAA match in Ballyforan (extra.ie)
- whereThe assault took place at Ballyforan GAA grounds. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on Wednesday evening, 31 August 2022 (extra.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred in a U17 football match played on Wednesday evening. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on Wednesday evening, 31 August 2022 (extra.ie)
- whenThe assault occurred in the second half of the match (extra.ie)
- whenThe assault happened 30 seconds into the second half of the game (extra.ie)
- whenThe alleged assault occurred during the second half of an under-17 football match in Ballyforan on August 31 (extra.ie)
- whenThe assault took place on 31 August 2022. (rte.ie)
- causeThe referee had received abuse from the sideline during the second half and went to deal with it. (rte.ie)
- investigationRoscommon GAA confirmed a full investigation is underway (extra.ie)
- investigationAn investigation was launched into an alleged assault incident involving a referee during an underage match. (longfordleader.ie, leitrimobserver.ie)
- investigationThe full investigation will be undertaken by the Competitions Control Committee of the Roscommon county board. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationThe full investigation will be undertaken by the CCC (Competitions Control Committee) of the Roscommon county board. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- investigationRoscommon GAA launched its own probe into the incident (extra.ie)
- investigationRoscommon GAA has launched an investigation into the incident (extra.ie)
- investigationRoscommon GAA is to expedite an investigation into the assault (extra.ie)
- investigationThe garda said Mr Kenny acknowledged his actions from the start and expressed remorse. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe garda said Mr Kenny cooperated throughout the investigation. (rte.ie)
- chargeJames Kenny was charged with assaulting referee Kevin Naughton. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe DPP had accepted a Section 2 assault charge. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Ballinasloe District Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said he was not accepting that the offence was a Section 2 assault. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said the matter would be dealt with in the circuit court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned to 27 July to prepare a book of evidence. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said Mr Kenny would have faced six months in prison if the case were dealt with that day. (rte.ie)
- otherRoscommon GAA condemned behaviour that puts match officials at risk (extra.ie)
- otherRoscommon GAA condemned any behaviour that puts match officials at risk and wished the referee a speedy recovery. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherSt Aidan's GAA Club vowed to co-operate fully with the investigation (extra.ie)
- otherGAA matches in the county were postponed and rescheduled to 16–18 September (extra.ie)
- otherReferees withdrew from all county matches in protest (extra.ie)
- otherThis was the first-ever shutdown of all games in the county (extra.ie)
- otherAttention has focused on one club official who is to be called before the investigation (extra.ie)
- otherThe Roscommon Camogie Board confirmed all championship fixtures for the weekend were postponed (extra.ie)
- otherSt Aidan's said the club will cooperate fully with the Roscommon CCC and Roscommon GAA in their investigation (extra.ie)
- otherRoscommon GAA did not identify the man involved (extra.ie)
- otherA separate under-11 hurling game in Kerry was abandoned due to sideline abuse of the referee (extra.ie)
- otherThe judge described the video footage of the incident as quite shocking. (rte.ie)
- otherThe defence said there was no intent by Mr Kenny. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Jun2023Referee lost interest in GAA after assault, court hears
Court report of the case against James Kenny. Adds the court hearing, the referee's account of his injuries and anxiety, the DPP's Section 2 charge, the judge's view that the case should go to the circuit court, and the adjournment to 27 July.
accused, James Kenny, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Kennyvictim, Kevin Naughton, male, irish (judged from name)Kevin Naughton - 16 Sep202296-Week Ban Proposed For GAA Club Volunteer Alleged To Have Assaulted Referee
Adds the GAA disciplinary response: a proposed 96-week ban (the minimum for a repeat offence) by the Competitions Control Committee, the fact that Roscommon GAA has not identified the man, and the postponement of all Roscommon GAA games on 16–18 September after referees withdrew in protest.
victim, Kevin Naughton, male, irish (judged from name)Kevin Naughtonsuspect, male - 3 Sep2022Roscommon GAA Probe Ref Assault Incident As Games Postponed
First report of the assault; Roscommon GAA to appoint a special committee to investigate; referees withdrew from all county matches in protest; a club official is to be called before the investigation.
victim, malesuspect, male - 2 Sep2022Minister Slams Alleged Assault Of GAA Referee
First report of the alleged assault; Gardaí conducting inquiries, Roscommon GAA investigating, match abandoned, no arrests made.
victim, male - 1 Sep2022GAA club break silence following alleged referee assault
First report of the incident; St Aidan's GAA Club and Roscommon GAA have issued statements condemning the behaviour and vowing to co-operate with the investigation. No arrests have been made.
victim, male - 1 Sep2022Investigation launched by Roscommon GAA following suspected assault of referee at underage game
Roscommon GAA confirmed the incident and stated the full investigation will be undertaken by the CCC (Competitions Control Committee) of the Roscommon county board. Footage of the referee receiving medical attention on the pitch was released.
victim - 1 Sep2022Investigation launched by Roscommon GAA following suspected assault of referee at underage game
Roscommon GAA issued a formal statement condemning the incident and confirmed the CCC will conduct the full investigation; footage of the referee receiving medical attention on the pitch emerged.
victim - 1 Sep2022Roscommon GAA confirms investigation after GAA referee 'hospitalised' after alleged assault
Roscommon GAA confirmed an investigation into the alleged assault on a referee during a minor championship match in Ballyforan; no arrests or further details given.
victim, male