A FIANNA Fáil TD who was "obviously drunk" held on to a youth while another man punched him in the face, a jury heard yesterday.
The trial of Mattie McGrath TD and five other men for assaulting a teenager heard Mr McGrath shouted "pups" and "vandals" at a group of youths and held on to one youth who was then struck in the face.
Giving evidence on the third day of the trial, Eric Reith (24) said Mr McGrath was shouting at his friends to get out of Mr McGrath's hometown of Newcastle, Co Tipperary.
Mr Reith told the court that he was drinking bottles of beer with four friends in the church car park in the town on the night of August 13th, 2006.
He said two of his friends, Stuart Forbes and Declan Hoare, went down to Nugent's pub to get more drink but they were jeered by people inside.
Mr Reith said three men came out of the pub and picked a fight with Mr Forbes, Mr Hoare and Timothy Cleere who were standing across the road.
Mr Reith said that when he arrived outside the pub he could hear Mr McGrath shouting at the three in a "very loud and abrupt voice".
He said Mr McGrath was "obviously drunk" and that "he jumped into a car because he knew he'd stirred up something".
He told the jury that Mr McGrath made a phone call inside the car and within seconds a group of local men, including Mr McGrath's son Edmond came out of Nugent's and attacked Mr Cleere. Mr Reith said he tried to help Mr Cleere but Mr McGrath "grabbed" on to his shirt and pulled him back.
He said Mr McGrath wouldn't let go and that a man from the pub, Christopher Cullinan, "came across" and hit him in the face.
Mr Cullinan, one of the six accused of assaulting Mr Cleere, is also charged with an assault on Mr Reith. Mr McGrath is also charged with violent disorder and using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place.
The trial continues at Clonmel Circuit Court today.