Northern Ireland sports star who'd hoped to make his name here now faces charges he stomped a man outside a South Boston bar

A Gaelic football star from Northern Ireland who moved to South Boston earlier this year was arraigned today on charges he punched and then kicked a man outside the Lincoln Tavern so hard the man could lose a kidney.

Ciaran McFaul, 28, had bail set at $5,000 on charges of assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury for what the Suffolk County District Attorney's office calls an unprovoked attack at closing time on June 20. According to the DA's office:

At around 2:00 a.m. on June 20, a heavily intoxicated McFaul was kicked out of Lincoln Tavern and Restaurant following his attempts to start fights inside the establishment. On West Broadway outside the tavern, he encountered three men and assaulted the group. He punched one victim three times in the face, causing the victim to fall to the ground. He then kicked the victim in the abdomen at least five times with a shod foot. The victim suffered serious internal injuries including a stage four kidney laceration and internal bleeding. He was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of Brigham and Women’s Hospital for two days and risks the complete loss of one kidney as a result of the unprovoked attack.

The Irish News reports McFaul quit or was released from his Derry team in April, just before the provincial championship.

The Glen man is understood to be bound for America to play football for the summer, returning to Donegal Boston where he stood out during the club’s championship success in 2018.

According to the DA's office, McFaul set up housekeeping in South Boston. In a statement, acting DA Kevin Hayden said:

This man’s hunger for violence resulted in potential life-long impacts on a victim who was doing nothing more than standing on a street corner with friends. We will ensure that he is held accountable for the harm he inflicted.

Innocent, etc.