Lap dancing club criticised after man jailed for ‘rampage’

A judge has criticised a Dublin lap dancing club for serving an already drunk customer up to 15 more alcoholic shots before he went on a violent “rampage”.

Judge Martin Nolan said it was "beyond belief" that Club Lapello on Dame Street served father-of-two Daniel Rains (31) more alcohol after staff had been aware he was heavily intoxicated.

“The idea this establishment would serve an extra 10 to 15 shots totally defies belief,” he said.

The judge imposed a two and a half year jail term and commented that the night club had let down the victims and Rains “to a lesser degree”.

Rains, an electrician of Crossley Road, Blackley, Manchester, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mauritian national Ramanasmany Manthaly causing him harm at Club Lapello, Dame Street, on January 26th, 2014.

He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to another customer, Nikat Koc, and common assault to security men, Toder Ivascu and Luiz Wynne, on the same date. He has four previous convictions in the UK, including assault.

Garda Ciaran O’Sullivan told Gerardine Small BL, prosecuting, that Mr Manthaly suffered a fractured cheekbone in the unprovoked assault.

The victim, who had to have metal plates inserted in his cheek, had been about to leave the premises when Rains started punching him. Rains attacked three more men before gardaí arrested him on the scene.

Gda O’Sullivan agreed with Patrick Marrinan SC, defending, that his client was “incoherent and unsteady on his feet” and had begun drinking on the ferry to Dublin earlier that day.

The garda agreed that Rains said he had no recollection of the attacks and expressed remorse during interview.

Gda O’Sullivan further accepted that the Club Lapello staff had told Rains to “quieten down” but allowed him to remain on the premises before the assaults.

Mr Marrinan submitted that his client had gathered Stg£16,000 in compensation to offer to his victims.

Judge Nolan acknowledged that Rains was extremely remorseful and had been “intoxicated to a state of incoherence”. He said the “extent of the rampage” was at the higher end of seriousness.

The judge added that compensation had no place in the case.

He imposed two and a half years in jail, with credit given to any time he spent in custody awaiting bail.

The judge reiterated that he was “stunned and surprised (Rains) was served that amount of alcohol on the night.”