A carpenter, who told a judge that a barman punched and broke his nose when he insisted on being served in rotation at a packed St Patrick's weekend disco, has settled a claim for up to £30,000 damages for an undisclosed amount.
Mr Derek O'Hagan, of The Poplars, Monkstown, Co Dublin, told Judge Liam Devally in the Circuit Civil Court he had queued up for drinks at the night-club bar in the Kingston Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, but was not served after several requests to the barman.
On the third occasion when he was passed over at the crowded bar he had stood on the foot-rail, leaned over and tipped the barman on the shoulder to attract his attention. The barman punched him on the nose, breaking it.
Mr Hugh O'Keeffe, counsel for Grand Liquor Ltd, trading as the Kingston Hotel, said the barman's evidence would be that he had dragged the barman across the counter and had been accidentally hit in the nose as the barman had struggled to break free.
Following the lunch recess Judge Devally was told the parties had reached a settlement.