AN Ireland rugby star yesterday agreed to be bound over to keep the peace after charges of assaulting two men were “left on the books”.
Standing in the dock of Belfast Crown Court dressed in a dark suit and orange tie, 25-year-old Ireland, Ulster and British Lion player Stephen Ferris agreed to “be bound over and keep the peace and not to be involved in public disorder” for a year in the sum of £500.
Ferris, from Chestnut Hall Avenue in Moira, had been charged with assaulting two men, allegedly causing actual bodily harm to Colm Conlon and common assault on James McGinley on September 27, 2009.
Prosecuting lawyer Peter Magill asked for those charges to be “left on the books, not to be proceeded with without the leave of the Crown Court or the Court of Appeal”, an application granted by the Recorder of Belfast, Judge Tom Burgess.
Defence QC Liam McCollum said the rugby international was “obviously very sorry for what happened that night”, adding Ferris’ older brother had pleaded guilty to assault.
At an earlier court hearing, David Ferris, 28, and with the same address at Chestnut Hall Avenue in Moira, pleaded guilty to causing Mr Conlon actual bodily harm on the same date.
In granting the binding over order, Judge Burgess said it was a “sensible way forward” as having read the papers it was clear to him that David Ferris “instigated everything that happened”.
The judge also set next Thursday for the plea and sentence of David Ferris.