A judge has held that a landlord, who accused two ESB men of assault, was "beside himself with rage" when they called to cut off his electricity.
Judge James Carroll, in the Circuit Civil Court, said Mr Brendan Murphy, of Knockaire, Templeogue, Dublin, had stumbled and fallen on his face when he lunged at the ESB men.
The judge told Mr Mel Christie, counsel for the ESB, he accepted his clients had not laid a hand on Mr Murphy who had "perceived himself to be on solid ground, given the fact he had paid his ESB bill the previous day".
Mr Murphy told the court he was "slung down the steps" by two ESB men who had called to disconnect a supply at property he owned in Garville Road. He denied using foul language.
Judge Carroll dismissed Mr Murphy's claim for £30,000 damages for assault and awarded costs against him.