Men attacked club patrons on the street

Four young Nigerian men will be sentenced later for their role in a street attack on nightclub goers and a DJ over three years ago.

One of the victims, Ross Butler, was knocked unconscious in the initial fight and suffered seizures from bruising and swelling on his brain after being discharged from hospital. He was on medication to deal with seizures for seven months and was not allowed drive for a year.

Another victim, DJ Mark Jones, had to have a permanent cheek implant surgically fitted and was left with a number of fractured teeth following the attack.

Damilola Adeyemo, aged 21, of Whitworth Place, Drumcondra, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Butler and Mr Jones. He also pleaded guilty to stealing the DJ’s €200 headphones and bag of CDs at Eustace St and Curved St in the early hours of Oct 10, 2010.

Nero Omoruyi, aged 20, of North Circular Rd, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Butler, Mr Jones and another club-goer, Colm Ahern. He also pleaded guilty to producing a glass bottle.

Damilara Bammodu, aged 20, residing in hostel accommodation in Limerick, pleaded guilty to assaulting Sean Maher on that date, and to possessing stolen headphones at his then residence on Oct 28, 2010.

Oluwafemi Adetunji, aged 21, now living with a family in Portlaoise, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Ahern during the fight and to possessing a stolen DJ bag of CDs at his then North Circular Rd home on Oct 28, 2010.

All four men pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Det Insp Michael Cryan revealed that three of the assailants claimed in interview their three-minute attack was spurred by racist comments. He told Roisín Lacey, prosecuting, the victims had been outside The Mezz Club when the fight broke out.

One witness told gardaí he recalled “words being exchanged” between him and a group of four black men. He said one of the group began squaring up to him and he next remembered seeing Mr Butler on the ground.

CCTV footage of the Eustace St fight showed this altercation stopped briefly and the parties separated, until Bammodu was seen running back into the crowd. Mr Ahern told gardaí he shouldered Bammodu into a bike rack when he saw the assailant sprinting back to his group.

Det Insp Cryan said the second part of the melee broke out at this point.

The fight spilled onto Curved St, where Mr Jones was knocked to the ground unconscious.

Judge Desmond Hogan adjourned the matter pending a probation services report and to see if any of the men would be suitable for community service.