Donegal star Kevin Cassidy pleads guilty to affray charge

A Donegal GAA footballer, who was dropped from the Counties panel late last year, has appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court charged with affray.
30-year-old Kevin Cassidy, of Derrybeg, Gweedore, appeared in court yesterday to face the charge.
The player and former captain of the Donegal senior team pleaded guilty to threatening unlawful violence during the affray.
He has been a star of the Donegal team for the past number of years, was captain during the 2008 season and has received two All-Star Awards.
He was hailed at Croke Park this season when he scored a 50-yard last-gasp winning point against Kildare in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
However, he was recently dropped from the Donegal team by manager Jim McGuinness for co-operating with the writing of a book which gave an insight into the affairs of the team.
He is a teacher at a special needs school in Letterkenny and is a fluent Irish speaker.
Cassidy’s brother, 37-year-old Stephen, also appeared before the court charged with a different offence.
He was charged with assault causing harm.
He also pleaded guilty to the charge.
The charges arise out of an incident on the evening of August 24th, 2008, at Derrybeg, Gweedore.
Another set of brothers also appeared in court charged with offences related to the same incident.
28-year-old Shaun Maguire, of Ardsbeg, Gortahork, was charged with engaging in threatening behaviour in a public place. His brother 21-year-old Michael, of Gortahork, was charged with committing an affray. Both pleaded guilty.
Judge John O’Hagan adjourned the case until July, and said the issue of community service should be considered.