A bouncer at a Co Tipperary hotel yesterday described the attack in 1999 on Kilkenny hurling star P.J. Delaney as the worst he had seen.
Mr Mick Kelly, who worked at Hayes's Hotel in Thurles, was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of three men accused of assaulting Mr Delaney in September 1999 at Liberty Square, Thurles.
The accused, Mr Philip McCarthy (35), his son, Mr Stephen McCarthy (17), and his nephew, Mr Peter McCarthy (18), all with addresses at Cabra Court, Thurles, have denied the charges.
On the opening day of the trial at Clonmel Circuit Court, Mr Johnny Walsh, prosecuting, explained that on the date in question Mr Delaney and some friends attended a disco at Hayes's Hotel. He said an incident took place there.
It was alleged that one of Mr Delaney's party struck a man. Mr Walsh added that Mr Delaney was subsequently invited to go outside and make peace with the person who had allegedly been struck.
When he went outside, Mr Delaney was struck a blow and fell to the ground.
Mr Walsh said that at this point a number of other people arrived at the scene, introducing weapons, and "laid into" Mr Delaney.
Dr Ashok Narayan said that he examined Mr Delaney on his arrival at Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel. He said Mr Delaney was deeply comatosed, that his left pupil was dilated and that there was a depressed fracture at the back of his head. Dr Narayan contacted the neurosurgeon in Cork and Mr Delaney was given an urgent transfer to Cork University Hospital.
A witness statement from a Ms Jackie Cullen was read to the court in her absence. In it she stated that she had brought Mr Delaney out of the disco. She maintains she was under the impression that his going outside was likely to lead to a reconciliation.
Ms Cullen added that she would never have brought Mr Delaney out of the disco if she knew he was going to get into trouble. She concluded: "My heart is broken because of what happened to him."
The trial continues today.