Charges of increased severity have been brought against a former Mayo senior footballer and others allegedly involved in a serious assault in Castlebar, Co Mayo last August.
Judge Michael Connellan was told at Castlebar District Court that charges against the 23-year-old Gaelic football player Davitt Neary of Shanvalley, Breaffy Woods, Castlebar, against 24-year-old Paul Dowding of Frenchill, Castlebar, and against 18-year-old Rhys Neary of Shanvalley, Breaffy Woods, Castlebar, have been upgraded from Section 3 (assault causing harm) to Section 4 (intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm).
A fourth male, 23-year-old Oran Groarke of Ballynew, Castlebar was originally charged with violent disorder and that charge remains unchanged.
Under Irish State law, a prosecution under Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 is the most serious category of non-fatal assault.
Evidence of arrest, charge and caution against all four defendants was given by Detective Garda John Flannery and Detective Garda Roisin Loftus at the court sitting.
All of the defendants made no reply when the upgraded charges were put to them at the Mall, Castlebar, this morning, the garda officers stated.
Sergeant Conor McShane told Judge Connellan there was no objection to continuing bail for any of the defendants.
All four were remanded on continuing bail to Castlebar District Court on 15 July for service of the book of evidence.