Two bouncers have pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting and causing harm to two men at a Leeson Street club.
Mark Higgins Cotgreave, Maplewood Park, Springfield and John Meara, The Court, Main St, Newbridge pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Aaron O'Driscoll and Paul Walsh at Cats nightclub on Leeson Street on August 5th, 2000. Judge Micheal White remanded the defendants on bail until January 15th, 2003 for sentencing. The two defendants were originally listed for trial but pleaded guilty after discussions between prosecuting and defence counsels.
Earlier, defence counsel Mr Kerida Naidoo BL (for Mr Higgins Cotgreave) and Mr Padraig Dwyer BL (for Mr Meara) made an application to have the case adjourned as they feared the jury panel would be prejudiced by Tuesday's RTE Prime Time programme on bouncers. Both counsel said material used in the programme was similar to evidence that would be heard in the trial. They applied to have the case put back to put some distance between it and the airing of the programme.
Judge White refused the application as no specific evidence from the case was mentioned in the Prime Time programme.The two defendants then entered a guilty plea after discussion with their counsel.