Paul Byrne: Ex-Celtic Star Faces Assault Charges in Disturbing Case
- Paul Byrne, aged 52, is known for playing midfield for Celtic in the 1990s.
- Byrne earned several personal awards during his time at Bangor, including Player of the Year accolades.
- At Celtic, Byrne had notable success, scoring two goals in an Old Firm Derby against Rangers in January 1995.
Paul Byrne: A Footballer’s Journey and Recent Legal Issues
Paul Byrne, aged 52, is known for playing midfield for Celtic in the 1990s. His football journey began with Bluebell United in Dublin during the 1980s. At a young age, he signed as an apprentice with Oxford United, making his debut at 16. He later moved to Arsenal in 1991, but spent only six months there. Byrne then joined Bangor in the Northern Irish league, where he became a club hero by scoring the winning goal in the 1993 Irish Cup Final.
Byrne earned several personal awards during his time at Bangor, including Player of the Year accolades. His talents caught the eye of Celtic’s manager, Liam Brady, who signed him. Byrne moved in with the Brady family for assistance during his initial transition to Celtic. In 1994, he was called up to the Ireland international squad under Jack Charlton, though he did not play in a match.
At Celtic, Byrne had notable success, scoring two goals in an Old Firm Derby against Rangers in January 1995. He played for Celtic for two seasons before a loan stint at Brighton and a subsequent move to Southend United. Byrne later returned to Ireland to play for Glenavon, St Patrick’s Athletic, and Bohemians, where he captained the team to a league and cup double. He also played briefly in the US before transitioning to coaching.
Recently, Byrne faced serious legal issues. He is charged with three counts of assault causing harm to the same woman, with incidents alleged to have occurred between September 2017 and May 2022. One incident reportedly took place in Walkinstown, Dublin on St Stephen’s Day 2017, while others occurred in Tallaght and Dublin 8 on different dates.
Byrne appeared in Dublin Circuit Court, where Judge Orla Crowe set an arraignment date for February 18 next year. He remains on bail until that date. All three charges fall under Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, with a maximum five-year imprisonment sentence for each conviction. Byrne was previously granted legal aid in this case.