Father of one-punch victim reacts to Noah Balta sentencing
Matt Cronin, father of Pat Cronin, who was the victim of a coward punch which killed him back in 2016, has reacted to the sentencing of Richmond defender Noah Balta in Albury earlier today.
Balta has been given an 18-month community correction order and placed under a curfew between 10pm and 6am until July 22, and Mr Cronin has been doing a “fair bit of reflecting” since the verdict was handed down.
“When I was first approached about the whole Noah situation a number of weeks ago, my comment was prepare to be disappointed,” Mr Cronin told Heidi Murphy on 3AW Drive.
Press PLAY to hear his full reaction (including the questions he asked and the statement from Richmond CEO Shane Dunne)
“We’ll use Noah’s situation no doubt with our education programs we run, and use it as a real shining light of someone that you don’t want to be.
“Like it or not, Noah is now going to be a target, someone will want to provoke him, whether that be on the football field or in private life.
“He’ll always be remembered unfortunately for this act, and that is a consequence piece.”
Image: Michael Willson/Getty