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INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Man in black

Referee knocked unconscious by spectator after ladies' football decider

Simon Brady has no recollection of the events but describes incident as “shameful”.

A REFEREE WAS attacked at the end of a women’s football final last Friday, in what has been described by the victim as “the most serious incident that has ever happened, at least in Tyrone football”.

Speaking to the Irish News (subscription required), the referee, Simon Brady, said he had little recollection of the punch, which took place in the wake of the ladies football game.

Brady was checking his scorecard after St Macartan’s of Augher had beaten Carrickmore by a single point in Beragh

“Apparently I was hit,” he said, “My understanding is that it was a spectator. I woke up maybe five minutes later. I was frightened. I didn’t know what had happened. All I knew was I was lying on the ground and it was wet and cold.”

Brady was treated in Erne Hospital, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh after an incident that he described as “shameful” and said that being the subject of such vitriol, as referees routinely are, “can feel very lonely at times”.

Tyrone ladies football chairman Martin Conway was also injured when trying to intervene in the attack.

Following the attack, a statement was released, which read: “The county board roundly condemn the perpetrators of the assaults,” while an investigation into the incident is currently being undertaken according to reports.

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