Judge orders the arrest of football player Anthony Stokes, accused of headbutting a man in Temple Bar

A JUDGE HAS ordered the arrest of footballer Anthony Stokes, accused of head-butting a man in Dublin’s Temple Bar.

The 32-year-old former Celtic forward and Republic of Ireland star from Dublin claims he acted in self-defense.

In April he was charged with assault that caused damage to a man identified in the Fitzgerald pub in Aston Quay, Dublin 2, on March 16, 2019, which he denies.

The charge is found in section three of the Non-fatal crimes against the person Act.

He was scheduled to appear again in Dublin District Court today to set a date for the hearing. However, neither the player nor his lawyer were there.

Judge Colin Daly was told that the defendant has been in regular contact with Garda Donal O’Neill, the prosecutor. A long postponement was required for the hearing because the alleged injured party lived in the UK and was unwilling to travel.

Judge Daly noted that the defendant and his attorney were not in court and agreed to a request to issue an arrest warrant against his arrest.

Stokes, who has an address at Wyckham Point, Dundrum, Dublin 14, “did not respond to the accusation,” the court heard on April 28. The defense was ordered to release evidence.

The Director of the Public Ministry has ordered summary disposition, which means that the case must remain in the district court and not go to the circuit court, which has stricter sentencing powers.

Jurisdiction accepted.

In an outline of the evidence previously presented, Garda O’Neill said Stokes was allegedly head-butted the complainant once, “knocking him to the ground and temporarily losing consciousness.”

However, the man suffered no lasting injuries, the court was informed.

Upon conviction, the district court can impose a 12-month sentence for the crime.

Stokes denies the accusation. The night in question he had been in the bar with his girlfriend “and he says that he acted in self-defense at all times, proportionally,” his lawyer had said in a previous hearing.

The footballer was ordered to meet the conditions of the bail.

You had to continue living in your current residence in Ireland and notify gardai if you get work out of state, and provide the address and name of the employer.

You have given gardai your mobile phone number and they need to stay in touch.

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