Fan in Brennan assault awarded damages for libel

THE Ulster rugby fan who was attacked by ex-Irish international Trevor Brennan has been awarded damages for libel at the High Court in Belfast.

Patrick Bamford, 26, sued the Guardian newspaper over its reporting of the incident at the match between Toulouse and Ulster last January.

The paper also published an apology which stated that Mr Bamford was an innocent spectator. Mr Bamford’s solicitor said his client had been “totally vindicated”.

“He was a totally innocent victim of an unprovoked assault,” he added.

Toulouse star Brennan, who earned 13 Ireland caps, entered a seating area during a match against Ulster at Stade Ernest Wallon on January 21 and was alleged to have punched Mr Bamford.

Brennan, 33, was fined more than £17,000 (€23,700) by the European Rugby Cup (ERC) arising from the incident in the game against Ulster in January and ordered to pay more than £3,000 (€4,100) compensation to the fan and to pay the costs of convening the ERC disciplinary hearing.

Brennan was also banned for life for the incident, but when that decision was appealed in June to an ERC-appointed, independent appeals committee, the ban was reduced to a five-year suspension.

It was held that the life ban was “disproportionate” to the offence.

Brennan, who has since retired, recently published his autobiography Heart and Soul with journalist Gerry Thornley.