Former All-Star hurler arrested in Dublin just days before separate drink-drive case
Former All-Star hurler Anthony Nash was arrested and criminally charged with public order offences in Dublin this weekend, just two days before his court appearance on a separate drink-driving charge in Cork.
The Sunday World has learned that Mr Nash (40) was arrested on Saturday evening at a hotel in the Dublin 1 area.
It is understood that gardaí were contacted on Saturday over concerns that the former Cork goalkeeper 'needed help'.
Gardaí attended the scene and the 40-year-old was arrested for public order offences, and taken to Mountjoy garda station on the northside of Dublin city.
He was granted station bail and is scheduled to appear at Dublin District Court in early July
He was later charged with public order offences arising from the incident and was charged in the station.
He was granted station bail and is scheduled to appear at Dublin District Court in early July.
A garda spokesperson said: 'Gardaí have arrested a man further to a public order incident in Dublin 1 that occurred on Saturday June 14, 2025.
'The man (aged in his 40s) was detained under the Public Order Act, at a garda station in the Dublin area. He has since been charged and is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice at a later date. Investigations are ongoing.'
It is believed that Mr Nash may have been in the capital to attend the United Rugby Championship final at Croke Park between Leinster and the Bulls.
The hotel where he was later arrested held a drinks reception, which the former All-Star hurler had attended.
Former Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash. Photo: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile
News in 90 Seconds - June 19th
This took place just two days before he appeared in Cork District Court on a unrelated drink-driving charge.
On Monday, a judge dismissed this drink-driving charge against him.
Cork District Court heard that Mr Nash asked a garda, 'Do you know who I am?' when he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after his car was found in a ditch with the back of the vehicle protruding on to the road.
Mr Nash of Barters Wood in Tower, Blarney, Co Cork, also told the garda, 'I'm drunk' when she approached him on August 9, 2023, the court heard.
Garda Catherine Byrne told the court a Skoda Kodiaq crashed into a ditch on the side of the road at Cloghroe, Blarney, Co Cork.
She arrived at the scene at 9.22pm, having received a report from radio control minutes earlier.
Anthony Nash playing for Cork. Photo: Sportsfile
Gda Byrne said a male came from the driver side of the vehicle. She said he was 'dishevelled and appeared distressed'.
She said he identified himself as the driver and he stated, 'I'm drunk.'
She asked him if he was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident – and he replied he was, the court was told.
I asked if he had alcohol and he said, 'Yes, a bottle of wine'
'He then said, 'Do you know who I am?' I replied, 'No'. I asked if he had alcohol and he said, 'Yes, a bottle of wine'. He said, 'I'm Anthony Nash',' Gda Byrne said.
Mr Nash was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving at 9.35pm on the day in question.
Gda Byrne said at that point he became visibly upset and said: 'My life is ruined.'
Mr Nash was taken to Gurranabraher garda station in the patrol car.
He was asked if he wanted to give a sample of blood or urine. He opted to provide urine but was unable to do so. He then complied with a direction to give a blood sample.
The allegation in the summons was that Mr Nash had 236 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. That exceeds the limit of 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
Paula McCarthy, defending Mr Nash, said her client had fully complied with gardaí and had been unable to provide a urine sample 'through no fault of his own'.
She told Judge Philip O'Leary that while Gda Byrne received a call about the incident at 9.15pm, there was no evidence as to the time of driving.
Ms McCarthy applied for the case to be dismissed on the grounds that there was absence of evidence on the time of the driving or the fact of the driving.
For a case of this type to succeed, there must be evidence the driving occurred within three hours of a test for alcohol being carried out.
The judge said as there was no evidence of the time of driving, he had no option but to dismiss the case.
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