A KILDARE bouncer with one day’s training threw a customer out of a nightclub and left him lying in a pool of blood, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.
Ultan Mac Raghnaill (26), Beaufield Gardens, Maynooth, Co Kildare, was sentenced to two years, suspended in full for five years, and ordered to pay over €5,000 to his victim, David Gannon (20).
The court heard a staff member washed the blood from the pavement before gardaí arrived. “How people are allowed to work as with only one day’s training, I don’t know,” Judge Frank O’Donnell commented.
“It seems like something from the films of old where people are literally flung out the door. His actions are unforgivable, but I accept it was done in a moment of madness,” he added.
Mac Raghnaill pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr Gannon at Tramco, Rathmines, on February 8th, 2008.
Garda Peter Lyons told prosecuting counsel Paul Greene that Mr Gannon, his sister and a friend went to the Rathmines club.
They had a few drinks and were on the dance floor when words were exchanged with another group.
A scuffle ensued before several bouncers arrived, including Mac Raghnaill. Mr Gannon was pulled out and his arms were pinned behind his back by the bouncers.
He was carried horizontally with his face facing the ground. When they got to the door, the other bouncers backed away and Mac Raghnaill threw the victim face first on to the footpath.
According to witnesses, Mr Gannon landed on the ground with a thud, and a pool of blood began to form around his head. His sister and their friend followed and appealed for help from bystanders.
Gardaí were called but a staff member came out with a bucket of water and washed the blood away before their arrival.
Mr Gannon was taken to St James’s Hospital, where he was given painkillers and had stitches inside and outside his mouth. Three teeth were badly damagedand he had to get extensive procedures carried out in the following months.
Gardaí viewed the incident on CCTV footage, and Mac Raghnaill was arrested. He claimed in interview that Mr Gannon was struggling and fell over as they got to the door.
When he was shown the CCTV footage, he maintained he was “only doing his job”.
Defence counsel William Galvin, said his client had received one day’s training, and it was mostly in first aid.
He said his brother was a former garda who went into security work and this is how he got into it.
He said he was hoping to study equine management and was working in Maynooth Equestrian Centre in preparation.
He added that he came from a good family and was a member of the local GAA and rugby clubs.