Gardaí have taken witness statements from a number of people whose evidence they believe may be crucial as part of an inquiry into an Irish professional footballer accused of a violent assault in a nightclub at the weekend.
The investigation was begun on Sunday when the victim made a statement of complaint to gardaí at Pearse Street station in Dublin’s south inner city. The man, who is in his 20s and from Finglas, Dublin, was yesterday interviewed at length by the investigating team.
Gardaí have also taken statements from a number of staff at the Buck Whaleys nightclub on Leeson Street in the south inner city, including security staff who intervened and ejected a number of people from the club after the incident.
The Irish Times understands some revellers who were in the club at the time have also been spoken to, but detectives are seeking others who were there but have not yet come forward.
Gardaí yesterday also began an examination of CCTV footage recorded inside and outside the premises.
“It’s a question of investigating this, gathering as much evidence as we can, and then speaking to the suspect at that stage,” said one source.
The footballer at the centre of the case is from Ireland but based in Britain. The player, who is well known and has represented Ireland, was in the club at around 3.40am on Saturday when a man was assaulted.
The victim, who is not known to gardaí, sustained a broken nose and other injuries to his face and damage to his teeth after being headbutted. He spent most of Saturday in hospital undergoing medical treatment.
