The District Attorney's Office has decided not to press charges just yet against 26-year-old Patrick Power, the Half Moon Bay man arrested last week in connection with an off-the-ball fracas that put 22-year-old Mark McGovern in a coma.
Erica Derryck, spokeswoman with the DA's Office, told SF Weekly that prosecutors discharged the case against Power, pending further investigation.
"We are working with the SFPD who executed the search warrant, and we are awaiting forensic reports on information and materials seized as part of that search," she said.
McGovern's sister, Grace, told us that she had not yet heard the news about Power and had no comment at this time. She did, however, report that her brother was "improving everyday."
"He's doing very well," she told SF Weekly.
Power was arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion of beating McGovern, who was in San Francisco for the summer playing Gaelic football for the Ulster team. Power, who played on the Celts, was booked in San Francisco County Jail, but was was released the following day, police said.
All along, Power was a person of interest in the June 25 incident where McGovern fell to the ground and began having seizures while playing a match against the Celts at Treasure Island.
Teammates say they saw Power standing over McGovern, saying "you won't get up from that."
McGovern -- who is from Ireland -- remain in a coma until last month. He has been undergoing rehabilitation for a serious brain injury. Meanwhile, his medical bills have peaked at $1 million, and his family and team has held fundraisers to help pay them.
Donations can be made on the www.support4markmcgovern.com website, or by
mail to Mark McGovern Fund at 117 Dalewood Way, San Francisco, CA, 94127.
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