Gare du Nord train station in Paris where the assault took place

An Irish football fan has been jailed for eight months for an assault in Paris during Euro 2016.

David Hunt (35), from Ballinteer, south Dublin, is two weeks into his sentence for attacking a man at the Gare du Nord train station on June 15.

The incident happened two days after Ireland drew with Sweden in their opening Euro 2016 match.

He is believed to be the only Irish fan to be convicted for violence at this year's European Championships.

The assault "with a weapon" happened in the central city train station at 6am.

Lockdown

It is unknown what type of weapon he had or how the incident came about.

Two days later, on June 17 - a day before Ireland played Belgium in Bordeaux - Hunt was tried before the Paris Criminal Court where he was convicted of armed assault and sentenced to eight months in prison.

His family only learned of what had happened just over a week ago and are anxiously trying to find out the full details.

A source told the Herald that his relatives have not yet had the opportunity to visit him.

"Nobody has seen him at all," the source said. "It's like lockdown over there in France. There's no information coming out about where he's jailed."

They added that the family had received very little information on Hunt's current status.

It is understood he was in France with friends from Dublin to attend the football finals.

A spokesperson for the Parisian courts service told the Herald that Hunt's sentence could be reduced, and his family could visit him in prison if they made the necessary arrangements. However, he refused to reveal details of Hunt's crime or the weapon involved.

He also stressed that having the case tried and issuing a jail sentence within two days of an arrest or a crime being committed was a common procedure in France.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it would not be drawn on whether it is offering consular assistance to Hunt or his family.

The news of Hunt's conviction comes after Irish fans in France received widespread praise for their good behaviour throughout the tournament.

Mayor of Paris Anne Hidal- go has announced she will present the prestigious Medal of the City of Paris to Republic of Ireland fans, calling the Green Army "exemplary in their sportsmanship".

Online Editors