Former footballer meets gardai to give statement on alleged assault

Former professional soccer player Stan Collymore yesterday flew back to Dublin to provide a statement to gardaí about an alleged…

Former professional soccer player Stan Collymore yesterday flew back to Dublin to provide a statement to gardaí about an alleged assault on him in the city centre early on Sunday morning.

Collymore met gardaí from Pearse Street station by arrangement at Dublin Airport for more than an hour yesterday afternoon.

Collymore has alleged that he was assaulted after leaving a nightclub on Grafton Street in Dublin.

He says the men who attacked him were in a group which had travelled to Dublin for the European Cup match between Bath Rugby Club and Leinster at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

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Collymore, who was in Dublin at the weekend for a television appearance, has said that he would be able to identify "80 per cent" of those involved in the incident.

He said he had earlier had words with some of the rugby group inside Lillie's Bordello nightclub. It is alleged that insults continued to be traded between Collymore and members of the other group at the Burger King restaurant on Grafton Street.

It is understood those involved were asked to leave the premises. Collymore says that at this point, at about 3.30 a.m. on Sunday, he was set upon by the group. A number of security guards on the street intervened and gardaí were later called.

Collymore's agent, Mr Simon Kennedy, said on Monday that his client was determined to pursue the matter. "He didn't incite anything whatsoever. Stan was having a great night with some very nice people."

Martin Wall

Martin Wall

Martin Wall is the Public Policy Correspondent of The Irish Times.