Player cleared of match assault

An amateur footballer has been found not guilty of assaulting an opponent during a soccer match nearly two years ago.

Niall McArdle, 24, had been accused of causing grievous bodily harm to a Newry City player while playing for Kilmore Rec at Crossgar, County Down.

Mr McArdle, of Mourne Avenue, Castlewellan, was found not guilty by a jury at Downpatrick Crown Court.

Afterwards he said it was a relief the trial "was over and done with".

"I didn't want to be a criminal because of a tackle in a football match," he said.

"I just thank God its all over."

He had been accused of deliberately elbowing an opposing player in the stomach, perforating his bowel during the December 2006 match.

Mr McArdle said that the collision had been accidental and that he did not deliberately set out to hurt anyone.