Arrest warrant issued for ex-Longford Town player Keith Gillespie

A warrant has been issued in Northern Ireland for the arrest of ex-Longford Town footballer Keith Gillespie.

Mr Gillespie was due to appear in Newtownards Magistrates Court yesterday to face a charge of breaching a non-molestation order on January 21 of this year.

On being told there was “no response” when Mr Gillespie was called for the hearing, District Judge Mark Hamill issued the warrant.

A police officer informed the court he believed Mr Gillespie breached the terms of the order by being “in the vicinity of the Hamilton Road.”

According to the National Centre for Domestic Violence in the UK, a non-molestation order forbids a person from using or threatening physical violence, intimidating, harassing or pestering, communicating or instructing or encouraging others. Orders are usually granted for terms of six to 12 months.

Keith Gillespie retired as a footballer last year after spending three seasons with Longford Town. Prior to that he had spells with Manchester United, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United, Bradford and Glentoran. He recently published his autobiography, ‘How Not to Become a Football Millionaire’, and was declared legally bankrupt in 2010, having lost over £7 million because a gambling addiction.