Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy has moved quickly to chastise Phil Babb and Mark Kennedy for getting themselves arrested last night. McCarthy has dropped both players from the travelling party to Holland and now their international futures look in serious doubt.

The players have nobody to blame but themselves. They brought Ireland and soccer into disrepute with their loutish antics last night. Both men were arrested for damaging a car belonged to a female Garda, coincidentally the same Garda who made the arrest.

They appeared in court this morning to answer the charges of being drunk and disorderly and carrying out criminal damage to a car. They were also charged with attempting to provoke a breach of the peace, including threatening behaviour and foul and abusive language.

Babb and Kennedy were released on £950 bail and they have to appear again on November 13. McCarthy was always going to come down heavy on the pair and so it proved as he announced that both were dropped from the squad for the Holland game on Saturday.

Introducing the two players at a press conference this afternoon, McCarthy said: "The first thing you all need to know is that neither player will travel to Holland. They will leave the squad as of now."

He added: "I would like to underline that the decision to address the media was their own as they want to clear up the matter on everybody's behalf so that we can get on with the football."

McCarthy informed the assembled media that he heard about the incident at 7.30 this morning when assistant manager Ian Evans rang him to tell him after hearing about it on the news.

Speaking about this morning's incident, Kennedy said: "It is all very regrettable. I would like to apologise to the manager, my family, my girlfriend and the players - I am absolutely gutted - but I have got to be responsible for my actions."

Phil Babb explained that the incident was "a prank that got out of hand", adding: "I would like to apologise to the young lady for the damage done to her car.

"It is a very sad time for us, especially coming up to such a crucial game. In fact it is hard to convey how sad I feel about this. I apologise to the manager and to the lads. I'm just deeply sorry about it."

Revised Squad:
Goalkeepers - Alan Kelly (Blackburn), Shay Given (Newcastle), Dean Kiely (Charlton)
Defenders - Stephen Carr (Tottenham), Gary Kelly and Ian Harte (Leeds), Steve Staunton (Liverpool), Gary Breen (Coventry), Richie Dunne (Everton).
Midfielders - Roy Keane (Man Utd), Mark Kinsella (Charlton), Steve Finnan (Fulham), Jason McAteer (Blackburn), Kevin Kilbane (Sunderland), Damien Duff (Blackburn), Matt Holland (Ipswich)
Strikers - Niall Quinn (Sunderland), David Connolly (Feyenoord), Robbie Keane (Inter Milan), Dominic Foley (Watford)