Security guard played no part in ejecting man from pub

A SECURITY guard who watched as a man was ejected from a pub and later died played no part in the struggle because “he did not feel comfortable with it”.

Anthony “Farmer” Hennessy died after an incident at the Mo Chúisle pub on Blarney Street in Cork on March 13, 2008.

At a resumed inquest into Mr Hennessy’s death at Cork City Coroner’s Court yesterday, on-call security guard John McCarthy said Mr Hennessy was being grabbed and pulled around as he was escorted off the premises.

“They started grabbing him all over and pulling him out and I stepped back, I didn’t feel comfortable with it, all of them against one.”

Mr McCarthy had completed a security training course the previous week which covered how to escort a person from a bar while restraining them in a safe manner. “I know how to safely hold someone and use restraint, I know that a choke hold restrains breathing and can cause damage by putting pressure on other parts of the body.”

Mr McCarthy said Mr Hennessy was aggressive and struggling outside the bar, where he was restrained for up to 15 minutes by at least three people.

The inquest heard that bar manager, Terry Burns, and his brother, Tony, held an arm each while Niall Burns said he held Mr Hennessy across the chest.

Terry Burns approached Mr Hennessy and asked him to leave and was told to “fuck off”. He then called security in the hope that Mr Hennessy might be persuaded to leave. When his brothers arrived, they discussed a plan of action outside and agreed that if Mr Hennessy did not leave they would remove him.

“Me and my brothers caught hold of him and walked him out of the bar. It wasn’t smooth, he’s a strong man. Outside, he was trying to break free. I could feel him struggling all the time but I did not feel I could let him go,” Terry Burns said.

Niall Burns, owner of Mo Chúisle, said that he held Mr Hennessy “across the chest” and was afraid to let him go.

He said Mr Hennessy had a reputation for breaking up bars and was known to every publican on the north side of Cork. “I was nervous for Terry and for the bar and the customers.”

He said Mr Hennessy kept pushing down on his arm as he restrained him but denied the grip was a choke hold.

“He was pushing down to get out, his feet were never off the floor,” Niall Burns said.

The inquest continues.