A BOUNCER who is accusing Steve Collins of assault has denied he tried to blackmail the formerboxing world champion.
Adriatik Vodo was recalled to the witness box after Mr Collins alleged under cross-examination on Tuesday that the doorman and his former employer were in a money-making conspiracy.
Mr Vodo told Patrick McGrath, prosecuting, that he never sought any money from Mr Collins and denied agreeing to change his evidence.
Mr Collins (46), St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Vodo on June 3rd, 2006, at the National Stadium, South Circular Road, Dublin. It was day three of the trial.
Mr Vodo said he was “surprised” to hear there had been an attempt by his former security boss, Seán Jordan, to “settle the case out of court”.
Mr Jordan, head of security at the National Stadium, was also recalled as a witness and denied being in a conspiracy with Mr Vodo to blackmail Mr Collins, but admitted he did attempt to “settle expenses without having to go to court”.
He told Mr McGrath that in July 2008, he contacted Mr Vodo’s solicitor and Mr Collins’s brother Roddy in an attempt to “sort it out without Garda involvement”.
Judge Tony Hunt told the jury at the beginning of his charge, following closing speeches by the prosecution and defence, that a verdict must be based on the facts of the case and warned that the trial "is not the X Factoror Eurovisionso don't pick your favourite".
The jury will begin its deliberations today.