Cathal Short: Ex-GAA footballer admits converting more than £1m in criminal property

Cathal Short won three All-Ireland club medals with Crossmaglen Rangers

A former Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) footballer has pleaded guilty on behalf of his company to converting almost £1.2m in criminal property.

Cathal James Short, 48, of The Crescent, Crossmaglen, was due to stand trial on Monday along with his company C Short Ltd at Belfast Crown Court.

But before the trial, Short, as the firm's sole director, was re-arraigned on the single count the company faced.

He replied "guilty'' to the company converting criminal property.

The charge read that between 9 June, 2010 and 20 March, 2012, C Short Ltd "converted £1,188,520 or thereabouts, which they knew or suspected, constituted or represented in whole or in part, benefit from criminal conduct or represented such a benefit''.

Prosecution counsel said there was no need for a pre-sentence report as Short had pleaded guilty on behalf of his company.

As the only punishment open to the court is by way of a monetary penalty, the judge said he wanted to see the company's trading accounts ahead of sentencing next month.

Short played football with Crossmaglen Rangers as a forward and won three All-Ireland Club championship medals.

He also represented the Armagh county team at senior level.