Actor Anthony Nolan, who appeared in a Smithwicks beer advertisement series, yesterday admitted assaulting a school teacher he met in Temple Bar, Dublin.
Nolan, of Rainsfort Avenue, Dublin, was sued for assault by teacher Martin Stynes, of Drumawling Road, Beaumont, Dublin.
Mr Dominic Hussey, for Mr Stynes, told the president of the Circuit Court, Mr Justice Smyth, that his client was celebrating the ending of the school year in July 1996 when he met Nolan in Eustace Street.
Mr Stynes, with a few friends, had been having a good time when he encountered Nolan who punched him in the face and kicked him in the groin.
Mr Hussey said his client's jovial behaviour seemed, for no apparent reason, to annoy Nolan.
Nolan told the court he was an out-of-work freelance actor with few possibilities of employment in the immediate future.
Mr Justice Smyth said damages for the assault would normally be in excess of £5,000 but, since Mr Nolan was jobless, he intended to cut the cloth according to its measure.
He awarded Mr Stynes £2,000 damages and costs and adjourned the proceedings for three months to see if Nolan could pay any compensation in the meantime.