Assault rap halts Limerick man's man's rugby career

THE career of a promising Munster rugby star was “effectively closed off” after he punched a bouncer knocking him unconscious, a court has heard.

Toby Ademakin, aged 20, who has an address at Oakfield, Fr Russell Road pleaded guilty, at Limerick Circuit Court, to assaulting Noel Guerin (42) outside Molly’s bar, Ellen Street at around 2am on December 22, 2014. 

During a sentencing hearing, Detective Garda David Burke said Mr Guerin, who has not returned to work as a bouncer since the incident, sustained a single blow to his face and fell “helplessly” before banging his head off the footpath.

He said Mr Ademakin, who was a student at LIT at the time, had been barred from the pub in September 2014 following a separate incident.

Judge Tom O’Donnell was told he had approached Mr Guerin earlier in the night asking if he was still barred and that he “started mouthing off” when he returned to the pub again a number of hours later. 

Detective Garda Burke told John O’Sullivan BL, prosecuting, the underage rugby star can be seen on CCTV footage delivering a “very forceful blow out of nowhere” over safety barriers which had been erected outside the main door of the pub.

Michael Collins BL said his client, who has no previous convictions, has learned a salutary lesson as a result of what happened, which has had major implications for him.

He said the incident had had a major effect on a “potential career in club rugby” and that Mr Ademakin has since moved to the UK where he is studying Sports Science.

He told the court there is a “low risk” of his client reoffending and he said he wants to lead a “stable law-abiding life” in future.

Urging leniency, Mr Collins said no weapon was used and he submitted the offence had been “spur of the moment” rather than premeditated.

Noting an offer of €5,000 in restitution and the contents of a probation report, Judge O’Donnell adjourned sentencing to October commenting there is a lot to consider.