‘UNPROVOKED ATTACK’ | 

Irish rugby star (19) broke man’s jaw at Sligo music festival

The victim was punched to the ground, was unconscious, and suffered a fractured jaw.

© Sligo Champion

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A former Irish U-18 rugby international, who broke the jaw of another young man at a music festival has had sentencing adjourned for a probation report.

Ambrose Bamber, (19) of Calry Rectory, The Mall, Sligo appeared before Sligo District Court where he admitted assaulting Shane Harte at a music festival in Ballygawley on July 15 last year.

The victim was punched to the ground, was unconscious, and suffered a fractured jaw.

Garda Gerard Dillon told the court that gardaí were called to the festival where they learned that the defendant had assaulted the victim.

Shane Harte was taken from the scene by ambulance and Bamber was arrested under the Public Order Act.

Mr Harte’s memory of the incident was not good and was unable to identify his attacker.

Mr Keith O’Grady BL defending, instructed by Callan Tansey Solicitors, said there was a full acceptance of wrong-doing from the defendant.

Mr O’Grady added that had the matter gone to trial it would have been a difficult case for the prosecution to prove and this was accepted by the prosecution.

The statement of the eye-witness who was a security man said a few males were coming out of the marquee and man A pushed man B and man B gave man A four thumps to the head.

The garda said he did not know the cause of the attack, but it was “unprovoked.”

The garda said the incident happened at a marquee towards the end of the festival and it was around 1.30 am in the morning.

Ambrose Bamber took the stand and said he had heard about the effect of his assault had on the injured party.

He apologised “for the damage I caused you and I hope you can forgive me.”

The defendant said he had been drinking and his memory of the incident was not great.

Judge Liddy told Mr O’Grady that he did not get the sense from his client that he appreciated what he did or its effects.

The judge said he would prefer for the defendant to have some insight and understanding of the effects of his actions on his victim.

The case was adjourned for a probation report to July 4 and would be finalised in September.