A savage attack on a local soccer referee has left the sporting world shocked and stunned and the nationwide publicity has again sullied the good name of Mullingar.Daniel Sweeney, from Mullingar, who has been refereeing soccer matches for many years around the midlands, was brutally attacked last Sunday afternoon, suffering serious facial injuries and needing hospitalisation.
The attack occurred after a Combined Counties Football League (CCFL) Division 1 game between Horseleap United and Mullingar Town, played last Sunday morning, 11 November, in Horseleap’s home grounds at the back of Paddy Ryan’s Pub in Horseleap.
It is understood that there were approximately three minutes remaining in the match which had kicked off at 11am, and that Horseleap were winning 3-1, when a dispute arose. One of the players from the Mullingar Town team, it appears, pushed the referee, forcing him to abandon the match.
Both teams were making their way off the pitch separately towards the dressing rooms area, although a number of Mullingar Town players were expressing their dissatisfaction towards the referee regarding his decisions during the match.
It is believed that at approximately 12.50pm, as the referee made his way towards his car, parked in the tight compact carpark at the back of Paddy Ryan’s pub, very close to the pitch, he was approached by a couple of Mullingar Town players and by a spectator. At least one of the men, it is alleged, then assaulted the referee and struck him, causing him to fall to the ground, with injuries to his face. A number of Mullingar players tried to restrain the other players and the spectator from assaulting the referee and from causing any more injuries.
Many of the Horseleap players emerged from the dressing room area and saw what was happening and they immediately came to the rescue of the referee and with great effort they managed to escort the injured Daniel Sweeney into the rear of the pub, an area often used by players to tog out before and after games.
CARPARK CHAOS –
OTHERS INJURED
At this stage chaos ensued in the Horseleap carpark. A number of people were trying to prevent the three men in question from causing further harm and in the middle of the frantic scenes, it is understood that a girl, one of the girlfriends of a Horseleap player and also a 13-year old boy, a son of one of the Horseleap players, received blows and were assaulted during the horrifying scenes. A number of adults and young children who were in the car park at the time were terrified at what was taking place.
Eyewitnesses claimed that one of the men who carried out the attack, then went to a car in the car park and took out a golf club from the boot of the car. Several Mullingar Town people were trying to prevent any further trouble but they were helpless as the man in question proceeded to smash the back window of a car, and several children nearby were fortunate to escape serious injury.
At this stage many of the Horseleap people, the referee, neutral spectators and indeed a number of people from Mullingar Town club had locked themselves into the back of the pub for shelter and protection from the violent behaviour taking place in the car park. It is understood that one of the men in question tried to gain entry to the back of the pub by breaking in, and then flung a golf club at the door of the pub.
Inside, some members of the public had called the Gardaí and an ambulance to attend the scene immediately.
The group of men who had carried out the attack then got into a car and fled the scene. A short time later the Gardaí arrived, while an ambulance and emergency services attended to the injured referee, before bringing him to Tullamore Hospital.
The Gardaí began their investigations into what had occurred in the car park and the scene became a crime scene and was eventually cordoned off and Gardaí began examining the scene.
It is understood, the referee, Mr. Sweeney suffered a fractured jaw in two places, a fractured eye socket and a broken nose, and needed stitches.
A photo of Daniel Sweeney lying in his hospital bed suffering from dreadful facial injuries soon spread across social media, with thousands of people expressing their horror and disgust at such a shocking incident.
The photo and news of the attack on the referee spread quickly amongst local soccer people, who expressed their horror and disgust.
NATIONAL PUBLICITY
Through social media news quickly spread to the general public and within a short time, national media and the national tv stations were following the story.
By Sunday night condemnation of the attack on Daniel was widespread. The local CCFL expressed their shock at the incident, while local and national referees’ organisations spoke of the need for severe sanctions to be brought against anyone who assaults or attacks a referee.
Chairman of the CCFL, Sean Montgomery said those involved would receive lifetime bans, and the club would face a significant fine. He described the incident as “completely and utterly unacceptable.”
Paul O’Brien, President of the Irish Soccer Referees’ Society, said they never want to see this again, and believed a deterrent must be put in place to ensure this happens.
Mr Sweeney is well known for refereeing soccer matches around the midlands and he is very popular with the soccer public. Daniel, a keen Celtic fan, regularly referees underage kids’ matches and on Saturday last, the day before the attack, took charge of a number of children’s underage games in Gainstown.
On Monday afternoon Mr. Sweeney was brought to St James’ Hospital, Dublin for further treatment of his injuries before he was transferred back to Tullamore Hospital, where he is continuing to recover.
Gardaí confirmed that they are investigating the incident. They say that they intend to interview all the players involved in the match and that they are following a definite line of enquiry and identified suspects, and arrests are expected to be made in connection with the assault.
