THE case against Derry Gaelic footballer Ciaran McFaul over an attack in the US that left a man with serious internal injuries is no longer going ahead after it was resolved at court.
The 28-year-old Maghera man is understood to have returned home this week after the case ended with a form of dismissal at a court hearing on Wednesday.
The Glen clubman faced charges of assault and battery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, relating to an incident in Boston on June 20.
He was said by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office to have become involved in a confrontation with three men after being thrown out of a venue in the early hours of the morning while heavily intoxiated in the city’s West Broadway area.
It was alleged Mr McFaul punched one of the men in the face three times before kicking him in the abdomen after he fell to the ground.
A previous court hearing heard how the alleged victim suffered a kidney laceration and spent two days in intensive care in hospital, with prosecutors saying he was at risk of losing the organ.
Following the charges last year, Mr McFaul was released on strict bail conditions, including that he remain in Massachusetts, surrender his passport and wear a GPS ankle bracelet.
In August he joined the Donegal Boston GFC squad to compete in the Boston Senior Football Championship, just days after a court appearance.
It is understood the team requested special permission to allow him to play while wearing the GPS device.
In January, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office quashed rumours in GAA circles that Mr McFaul’s bail conditions had been altered to allow him to return to Ireland to join Glen for the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final.
At a hearing of the South Boston Division of Boston Municipal Court on Wednesday, the case ended with a ‘continued without a finding’ result.
This is a form of dismissal which in Massachusetts law occurs when a defendant acknowledges they committed an offence, but they are not found guilty.
Instead, a judge orders the case to remain open for a probationary period, after which the case is dismissed.
The court ruled Mr McFaul had already served a probationary period of seven months and 26 days.
He was also ordered to pay an undisclosed restitution sum.
