A judge has asked two men involved in a row in a Dublin GAA club to make one final effort to settle their differences before she rules on an assault claim today at Dublin Circuit Civil Court.
Mr Michael Fletcher, a chef, of Woodlawn Park Grove, Firhouse, alleged yesterday that Garda Seamus Doherty, Castlefield, Knocklyon, butted and kicked him at Ballyboden St Enda's GAA and Camogie Club, Templeogue.
He claimed his nose was broken in the "unprovoked" attack over the alleged non-payment of a £20 "non-existent" bet on a Galway-Tipperary match two years earlier.
Judge Yvonne Murphy heard the row broke out about midnight on August 10th last year.
Garda Doherty told his counsel, Mr Pat O Connell, that he and Mr Fletcher had a "gentleman's agreement" on the Galway-Tipperary game but he had never received the £20.
He had asked Mr Fletcher about the bet many times and when he did so in St Enda's clubhouse Mr Fletcher had spat in his face and punched him. When Mr Fletcher had come at him again he had hit him in self defence on the side of the face and he had fallen over a table and chair.
Mr Fletcher is suing Garda Doherty for up to £30,000 damages for assault and battery, humiliation, upset, anxiety and distress.