A former Finn Harps and Republic Ireland international vandalised a friend’s car after wrongly believing he’d cost him his job with their local soccer club.
Ex-QPR forward Paul McGee keyed Tony Mannion’s Mercedes six times between November 2015 and May 2016 — all the while carrying on as normal with him.
Mannion managed the star — who scored four times in 15 games for Ireland — for Galway United and has known him for decades.
Sligo-born McGee, 62, who played for the Ballybofey side under Patsy McGowan, pleaded guilty to six charges of criminal damage at Galway District Court recently, and was given the probation act as well as being handed down a fine of €3,600.
The former striker, known as ‘Ski’ had previously worked as Head Coach in the Youth Academy with Salthill Devon in Galway but was let go.
Mannion’s car was then targeted in a series of attacks. A Victim Impact Statement was read to the court in which Mannion spoke of the distress the incidents had caused him, his wife and daughter.
A close pal of the Salthill Devon and former FAI coach said: “McGee blamed Mannion for losing his job, but Tony had nothing to do with it. While the incidents were happening, McGee continued speaking to Tony as normal.
“Tony had no idea who was doing it, and his wife and daughter were worried their home would be targeted.”
McGee won a League of Ireland medal with Sligo Rovers, the FAI cup with Finn Harps and a League of Ireland Cup with Galway United during a nomadic career which took in spells at Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Waterford United, Derry City, and Athlone Town.
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