Broadcaster Eamon Dunphy was "drunk, crude and lewd" on the night he is alleged to have groped and kissed a bouncer outside a nightclub, the bouncer told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
David Heatly (25), Devenish Road, Kimmage, who claims Mr Dunphy kissed and groped him, told a jury that Mr Dunphy was also annoyed at having earlier been refused entry to a lap-dancing club on Leeson Street.
Mr Heatly has denied making a false report at Harcourt Terrace Garda station on April 30th, 2003, intending to show an offence had been committed. Mr Dunphy told the court he had neither kissed nor groped nor came into any contact with Mr Heatly.
The case before Judge Elizabeth Dunne is scheduled to end today.
Mr Heatly denied in cross-examination by Mr Remy Farrell, prosecuting, that he "hot-footed up to the Garda station" to complain of an assault by Mr Dunphy because he was "seeing dollar signs". He also denied that he saw a "wealthy, famous person who was three sheets to the wind" and took advantage of the situation.
He said he had not spoken of making €15,000 from Mr Dunphy by alleging sexual assault against him nor had he canvassed witnesses to give statements to gardaí supporting his version of events nor offered them a night out in return.
Mr Heatly, the head doorman at Cats nightclub at the time of the incident, told his counsel, Mr Colm Ó Briain, that he saw Mr Dunphy approaching Angels lap-dancing club just a few metres away from Cats. He was refused entry.
"Don't look at me!" Mr Dunphy said to him and to a colleague who were both on duty at the door of Cats, next door to Buck Whaleys where Mr Dunphy went after being refused entry to Angels. Mr Heatly said Mr Dunphy turned around at the entrance to Buck Whaleys and gestured at him. He returned to the street and kissed him on the cheek.
Mr Heatly said Mr Dunphy then tried to kiss him on the mouth and he drew back from him. Mr Dunphy slapped him on the face at this gesture. "That's assault," he said he told Mr Dunphy. Mr Heatly, who said he was "very embarrassed" by the kiss, told Mr Dunphy to go inside and have a drink.
Mr Dunphy then walked back down the stairs of Buck Whaleys. He returned minutes later and stood outside Buck Whaleys talking to the club's general manager, Mr Steven Newman, and a doorman. Mr Heatly heard Mr Dunphy ask them if Legs, also in the vicinity, was a lap-dancing club. Mr Newman replied that Strings, also in the area, was one. He then walked over to Mr Heatly and asked him if he wanted a blow job. "He puts two hands on my waist and I pulled back sharply," Mr Heatly told the jury.
Mr Dunphy then "grabbed me by the testicles" before leaving and walking over to Strings. Mr Dunphy was refused entry, and he saw him getting into a car and driving away. Shortly afterwards Mr Heatly went to gardaí and filed a complaint.