Collins: Assault charge is money-making conspiracy

Former boxing world champion Steve Collins has alleged the Albanian bouncer accusing him of assault is in a money making conspiracy with other witnesses in the trial.

Mr Collins (aged 46) revealed under cross-examination that he believes the criminal case against him is “all about money” and that Mr Adriatik Vodo and his employer Mr Sean Jordan are conspiring together.

Mr Collins, in response to a question from Mr Patrick McGrath BL, prosecuting, added that he had given gardaí details of comments and recordings of phone conversations between people in the alleged conspiracy.

Mr Collins of St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Adriatik Vodo on June 3, 2006 at the National Stadium, South Circular Road, Dublin. It was day two of the trial.

Mr Collins confirmed he believed both Mr Vodo and Mr Jordan are involved in the alleged money making conspiracy but told Mr McGrath he had no evidence against any other parties “as yet.”

He agreed when Mr McGrath put evidence he gave at a previous trial to him about Mr Vodo appearing 20lbs bigger on the night and his assertion that the doorman had been on steroids.

Mr Collins told Mr McGrath he would “stand by” the evidence he gave that the 39-year-old’s appearance and “almost blind aggression” had given the impression of a “steroid head”.

Earlier Mr Collins told his counsel, Mr Pat Purcell BL, that Mr Vodo had “man-handled” him while refusing him re-entry to the stadium to finish RTÉ commentary on Bernard Dunne versus Jim Rock boxing match.

Collins said he had no formal accreditation to gain entry into the stadium but that he had been employed by RTÉ to commentate on numerous fights at the venue.

Collins explained that he had left the stadium to get some fresh air as it was “hot and sticky” inside but returned two minutes later to come back in using the same door.

He said he was “very relaxed and jolly” as he made his way back into the stadium but was then stopped by the doorman, Mr Vodo.

“He stopped me and then put his hands on my chest and started to man-handle me and pushed me away,” Collins said.

“I explained to him that I was working for RTÉ and other people around me were telling him who I was and to let me in,” he said.

He told Mr Purcell that the doorman appeared aggressive despite RTÉ co-commentator Mr Mick Dowell explaining to Mr Vodo who he was.

“The bouncer (Mr Vodo) started holding me and pushing me and pushed me about a metre outside the door.

“I then realised he was not listening to me and he was getting out of hand,” Mr Collins explained.

He said Mr Gavin Blanchfield, head of security, arrived and told Mr Vodo to let him into the stadium.

He said Mr Vodo became more aggressive and said it did not suit Mr Vodo to let him back inside to fulfil his work commitments with RTÉ.

He then thumped me in the chest with force and then I realised he lost it and I felt it was a dangerous situation as Mr Vodo seemed deaf to instruction and was looking at me with anger,” Collins said.

“He then went to grab my shirt and my initial reaction was to break away his grip with my left arm. I brought my left hand up with force to break him away from me and I made contact with his mouth,” he said.

He said he then drove to Blanchardstown to where his mother was living, changed his shirt as there was blood on it and returned to the stadium.

He drove his hired silver Volkswagen car to his “regular spot” near the exit gateway of the stadium and walked to the nearest entrance to re-gain entry to the premises.

“I was confronted by Mr Vodo again and I went ‘Oh no,’ and he proceeded to call his boss.”

Mr Sean Jordan, Mr Vodo’s employer, arrived at the door and told Mr Vodo and Collins to “shake hands and forget about it” which Collins said he was fine about that.

He denied under cross-examination that he had used bad language and acted like “a caged animal” after he was refused re-entry.

He also denied that his “pride was injured,” but admitted he “wasn’t happy” that he wasn’t allowed back into the stadium.

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