Suspended sentence for untrained bouncer

A Kildare bouncer with one day’s training threw a customer out of a nightclub and left him lying in a pool of blood, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Ultan Mac Raghnaill (aged 26) of Beaufield Gardens, Maynooth was sentenced to two years, suspended in full for five years, and ordered to pay over €5,000 to his victim, David Gannon.

The court heard a member of staff came out and washed the blood from the pavement before gardaí arrived.

"How people are allowed to work as (bouncers) with only one day’s training, I don’t know," Judge Frank O’Donnell commented. "This is a man who probably shouldn’t have been working where he was."

" His actions are unforgivable but I accept it was done in a moment of madness. However, the consequences of our madness often exceed our intentions," he added.

Mac Raghnaill pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr Gannon (aged 20) at Tramco nightclub in Rathmines on February 8, 2008.

Garda Peter Lyons told prosecuting counsel, Mr Paul Greene BL, Mr Gannon, his sister and a friend were out for the night when there was some words exchanged with another group in the club.

A scuffle ensued before several bouncers arrived, including Mac Raghnaill. Mr Gannon was pulled out and his arms were pinned behind his back by the bouncers.

He was carried horizontally with his face facing the ground. When they got to the door the other bouncers backed away and Mac Raghnaill threw the victim face first onto the footpath.

According to witnesses, Mr Gannon landed on the ground with a thud and a pool of blood began to form around his head. His sister and their friend followed and appealed for help from bystanders.

Gardaí were called but a staff member came out with a bucket of water and washed the blood away before their arrival.

Mr Gannon was taken to St James hospital where he was given painkillers and stitches inside and outside his mouth. He had badly damaged three teeth and had to get extensive procedures carried out in the following months.

Gardaí viewed the incident on CCTV footage and Mac Raghnaill was arrested. He claimed in interview Mr Gannon was struggling and fell over as they got to the door. When he was shown the CCTV footage he maintained he was "only doing his job."

Defence counsel, Mr William Galvin BL, said his client had received only one day’s training and it was mostly in first aid. He said his brother was a former garda who went into security work and this is how he got into it.