Roy Keane found not guilty of assualt

Keane had been charged with assault, a public order offence and criminal damage to the boy’s silver chain, said to be worth £2.99.

Responding to cross-examination earlier today, Keane admitted he had confronted the youngster after hearing him call out the word “w***er”, but that he had spoken to him in a polite and civil manner and had not manhandled him in any way.

District Judge Paul Richardson cleared the 33-year-old Cork man of all charges after a day-and-a-half long hearing at Trafford Magistrates’ Court.