Turner arrested & apparently on way to Bohs
From today's Irish News.
The captain of the Northern Ireland under-21 soccer team was released on bail in the High Court in Belfast yesterday after being charged in connection with an alleged sectarian assault.
Chris Turner (21) had been held in custody in relation to an alleged sectarian assault in Coleraine at the weekend.
Mr Turner, from Dunboe Gardens, Articlave, Co Derry, is charged with causing actual bodily harm to a man who had to be treated in hospital for cuts and bruises to his nose and head.
Crown lawyer Charles McKay said police had been staffing a vehicle checkpoint when they became aware of a man being assaulted at the junction of Killowen Street and Captain Street.
He said police had seen Mr Turner and another man kicking the victim as he lay on the ground.
Mr Turner was arrested and claimed during a tape-recorded interview that he had been provoked by the man, who had called him an “Orange *******”.
“The victim is from the Roman Catholic community, Turner is from the Protestant community and police investigations suggest this was a sectarian incident,” Mr McKay said.
A lawyer for Mr Turner said his client was a professional soccer player who had been on the books of the English club Derby County.
He was currently playing for Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland and was due to sign for the north Dublin club Bohemians today.
Lord Justice Higgins released Mr Turner on bail.
One condition was that he reside at his home address.
The judge said that if the transfer to Bohemians went ahead, Mr Turner could apply to the court to have the residence condition varied to enable him to live in Dublin.
Mr Turner was released on his own bail of £250 with a surety of £750.
The judge also imposed a curfew, which means he has to be in his home between 10pm and 7am
