A man was hit over the head with a full vodka bottle leaving him with concussion and 20 stitches after he left a Malahide, Co Dublin, pub, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury has heard.
Robert Murtagh (26), The Mall, Malahide, has pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Donal McGrath on Main Street, Malahide on August 17th, 2002.
Dominic McGinn, prosecuting, told the jury that they would have to decide whether the accused man acted in self-defence or committed a deliberate act of aggression.
Mr McGrath told Mr McGinn that as he left Duffy's Pub around 12.30am, two men who were not known to him shouted abuse at him. Mr McGrath said he asked them what their problem was and some shoving took place.
A doorman stepped in, broke up the scuffle and told them all to go home.
He continued on his way home but received a "box" to the back of the head and turned to find three men attacking him. A Garda car pulled up and arrested one of the men.
Mr McGrath said he started to walk home again when he was attacked by Mr Murtagh who hit him over the head with a bottle. He fell to the ground unconscious and was taken to Beaumont Hospital where he received 20 staples to a cut on his head.
Mr McGrath agreed, under cross-examination by Seán Gillane, defending, that he had thrown punches at the men but said he did so to defend himself. He denied the accuracy of hospital records which said he had not lost consciousness.
A witness and neighbour of Mr McGrath told the jury that he saw a scuffle between four men on the street before gardaí arrived and took one away.
The trial continues