Football star's brother jailed over street brawl
14:53, 07 January 2008
PREMIER League footballer Tim Cahill's brother has been jailed for six years after partially blinding a clubber in a drunken brawl – then fleeing the country.
Sean Cahill left the unconscious man in a pool of blood when he twice booted him in the face as he lay on the pavement during a scuffle after leaving Delanos nightclub in Bromley town centre.
The 29-year-old brother of Everton's Australian international, pierced the right retina of Chris Stapley, 31, after a row over a girl.
He fled to his native Australia just weeks before his trial, but was seized last March and flown back by detectives.
His victim has endured extensive painful surgery and is now unable to work as a quantity surveyor with permanent sight loss. But the Croydon Crown Court judge on Monday decided to award him no compensation.
Cahill, formerly of Ravensbourne Road, Bromley, was found guilty by a jury of GBH with intent.
Recorder Mr Robert Rhodes QC told him: "You plainly lost control of yourself that evening.
"You ran and kicked a defenceless man who was on the ground at least twice. You kicked him in the face and the injuries were terrible."
* See the full report in this week's Bromley Extra.