Bouncer 'too scared to work on door' after alleged assault by Steve Collins

An Albanian bouncer accusing former boxing world champion Steve Collins of assault after refusing him entry into the National Stadium has said the boxer challenged him to a private fight later that night.

Adriatik Vodo gave evidence in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that Collins drove at him in a green Audi car when he was standing at a door north of the stadium and asked him to “jump in my car and you and me will finish this tonight.”

Mr Collins (aged 44) of St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Vodo on June 3, 2006 at the National Stadium, South Circular Road, Dublin.

Mr Vodo (aged 39) told Mr Patrick McGrath BL, prosecuting, that he was working on the door letting media and VIPs into the stadium on the night.

He was told by his employer Mr Sean Jordan that he was “not to allow anyone who did not have a pass in”.

He said when Collins approached him at the door he asked to see his pass and Collins asked him: “Do you know my name?”

“I didn’t know who he was,” said Mr Vodo and displayed to the jury how he held his right arm at the door and his left arm stretched out to block Collins from gaining entry.

Mr Vodo said the colour in Collins’s face changed to white and he told Collins to calm down and asked again to see his pass.

He said he radioed his employer Mr Jordan to come to the door and said Collins told him if he did not move in two seconds he would break the bouncer’s head, saying: “I will put your teeth in the floor and then you will know my name.”

“He then told me the two seconds were up and he looked me in the eyes with his body shaking from left to right and then he punched me with his closed fist hitting my two front teeth,” said Mr Vodo.

Mr Vodo said he after he received the punch it was like “an electric shock”, his eyes were watering and his mouth was full of blood.

“I still held the door with my right arm and kept my left arm out. I then said to Mr Collins “Thank you very much, well done,” and he (Collins) walked into the car park,” said Mr Vodo.

He said he noticed Collins’ hand was bleeding and saw him go to an ambulance parked in the car park for medical attention.

His employer Mr Jordan had arrived at the door and when Mr Vodo pointed out Collins to him, Mr Jordan asked Collins what the bouncer had done.

Mr Vodo said Collins told him “I am not finished with you. I will be back again.”

Mr Jordan moved Mr Vodo to the main door of the stadium and later moved him to a fire exit on the north side of the stadium where Mr Vodo said Collins arrived in an Audi car and asked him to get into the car, saying: “You and me will finish this tonight.”

Mr Vodo said he asked Collins what he wanted from him as he was there to do his job and told the boxer to calm down.

He said Collins asked him “who will pay for my hand” and Mr Vodo said he told Collins “the person who broke my front teeth will pay for your hand.”

Mr Vodo said Mr Collins then swore at him.

Under cross-examining Mr Pat Purcell BL, defending, put it to Mr Vodo that Collins had gone in and out of the same door previously that evening as he was working as a commentator for RTE on the night, to which Vodo replied he could have done.

Mr Vodo denied pushing or lunging at Collins prior to receiving the punch and denied striking Collins with his arm.

He said that was the last time he worked security man as he “was too scared to work on the door”.

The trial continues before Judge Anthony Hunt and a jury of six men and six women.