The first garda on the scene of an incident in which a former Kilkenny hurler received serious injuries said that a man "was holding his head together as his injuries were so serious", a court was told yesterday.
Mr P.J. Delaney (27), Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, received serious head injuries after he was involved in a violent disturbance outside Hayes's Hotel in Thurles, Co Tipperary, on September 19th, 1999.
Mr Michael McCarthy (23), Galboola, Littletown, Co Tipperary, denies assault causing serious harm to Mr Delaney and committing violent disorder.
Mr John O'Donoghue (27), Beechwood Lawns, Thurles, also denies committing violent disorder.
Garda Declan Kinsella told Nenagh Circuit Court he saw a man on the ground with people crouched down around him, outside Hayes's Hotel. He said one of Mr Delaney's friends Mr Patrick Costigan, was holding Mr Delaney's head together "as his injuries were so serious".
Mr Delaney was in a coma for nine days and did not return to full-time work for nine months after the incident. He has no recollection of the incident or of playing in the All-Ireland senior hurling final a week before the alleged assault.
A doorman at the Factory Nightclub in Hayes's Hotel, Mr Michael Kelly, said the incidents were the worst he had ever seen. "It was like watching a gangster film - all hell broke loose. I would try to break up one fight and another would start behind me." He saw a "fairly vicious attack" on Mr Delaney outside the nightclub. "I knew he was in trouble because he made no effort to defend himself." He also heard somebody say "jump on his head".
Ms Debbie Martin said she ran into a telephone box to escape from the incidents. Earlier she saw a white Corolla car pull up outside the nightclub and four people got out carrying sticks.
Other witnesses said they saw hockey sticks, batons and a crutch being used in the disturbances. In a statement read to the court, Mr McCarthy said he was assisted outside the nightclub by bouncers after he was injured in a scuffle at closing time. He said people started making fun of his bruised face and he "got into a bit of a rumble". He hit one man on the face and said: "That's the last time you will make a mockery of my face."
At that point, Mr McCarthy said he saw people "booting the shit" out of a man on the ground whom he did not know. The hearing continues today.