Player Kicked By Crowd May Not Play Again

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 January 1949, Page 5

Player Kicked By Crowd May Not Play Again

(Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A ) LONDON, Jan. 6 (Recd. 6 pm).— A writ for £lO,OOO damages for malicious injury has been served against the Belfast Corporation,

It represents a claim by a footballer Jimmy Jones, whose leg was broken after he had been punched and kicked by spectators at the end of the game between Belfast Celtic and Linefield at Belfast on Boxing Day.

Jones, who is not yet 21, played as centre forward for Belfast Celtic, and is the leading goal scorer in Irish football. As doctors cannot yet say whether he will ever play again, the case will not be heard for several months.

The claim is brought under the Criminal Injuries (Ireland) Act, 1920, which provides that persons injured in a riot caused by three or more persons,. is entitled to compensation from rates. It is expected that legal dispute will arise on whether the ground is a public place within the meani&g of the Act.

The Irish Football Association committee has decided to close the ground for the next four Saturdays. In the Ulster Parliament, Mr. H. Diamond (Socialist Republican) asked why the police made so arrests ; Linfield.

Mr, J. Beattie (Independent Labour), said that if Jimmy Jones had worn the jersey of a different colour the police would have acted differently. This met with cries of “shame!” Linfield is regarded as a Protestant Club, and Celtic as Roman Catholic. Both clubs have players of both denominations. Jimmy Jones is a Protestant.