Gardai are probing shock claims that an adult walked onto a pitch during a game of hurling — and assaulted a nine-year-old boy.
This paper has established that the man is alleged to have grabbed the defenceless kid by the throat during a hurling blitz in Co Tipperary on Saturday afternoon.
“The allegation is that the man walked onto the pitch during a game, confronted a nine-year-old and grabbed him by the throat,” one source confirmed last night.
READ MORE: Child allegedly assaulted at GAA game as Gardai launch probe into shocking claim
We have established that the boy’s horrified mother witnessed the alleged incident in Thurles — and then called the gardai.
Now officers in the Co Tipperary town have begun an investigation into the incident, and although there have been no arrests it is understood they have identified a suspect.
Sources also confirmed that as part of the investigation a man presented himself to Thurles Garda Station on Saturday evening.
Gardai confirmed to us yesterday that an investigation into an alleged assault was underway — but officers declined to release more details as the incident involved a minor.
But several sources have confirmed that the alleged victim was aged just nine years old.
He was one of dozens of kids involved in a Munster GAA underage hurling blitz at Dr Morris Park in Thurles when the incident happened on Saturday morning .
A Garda spokesman confirmed the force was investigating an alleged assault.
He said: “Gardaí at Thurles were alerted shortly after 1pm on Saturday 15th October 2022 following an incident of alleged assault at a sports event in Thurles.
“Enquires are ongoing. As the incident involves young persons An Garda Síochána will not be commenting further at this time.”
Sources confirmed that the alleged victim did not require any medical treatment following the incident and nobody has been arrested as of late last night.
The blitz was organised by Munster GAA and a spokesman for that organisation last night confirmed it was aware of the incident — and was carrying out its own investigation.
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