A 35-YEAR-OLD man claimed in court that Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea punched him in the stomach several times before grabbing him by the throat in a Limerick city pub.
Matt Larkin, Altamara Court, Thomondgate, Limerick, was on trial at Limerick District Court yesterday for making a false statement to gardaí about an alleged incident at the Bank Bar, O'Connell Street, Limerick, on September 22nd, 2007.
Mr Larkin, who contested the case, is charged with making the statement at Henry Street Garda station, Limerick, on October 5th last.
Yesterday, during more than four hours of evidence at Limerick District Court, Mr O'Dea took the witness stand where he vehemently denied the allegations made by the Limerick security worker. "I did not punch him. I have never punched anybody in a pub in my life," Mr O'Dea said.
"I certainly didn't catch him by the throat with my left hand, my right hand or any other hand . . . I have never grabbed anybody by the throat in a pub in my life."
The Minister said he was enjoying a drink in the the Bank Bar as a private citizen on the night in question when Mr Larkin approached him and began shouting about the Government, whom he called "liars, crooks and frauds".
Mr Larkin "was behaving in a very threatening manner. He leaned in towards me and was towering over me and I thought I was going to get head-butted," Mr O'Dea said.
The Minister said it was "obvious" Mr Larkin hadn't voted for Fianna Fáil in the last general election and "that he was on the losing side".
When asked to explain CCTV footage shown to the court in which he had his hand raised in front of him, Mr O'Dea said he was doing so in a "protective manner".
"I have my left hand out in front of me to protect myself in the event of an attack," he said.
When called to give evidence, Mr Larkin admitted he had walked over to the Minister's company uninvited and began to discuss a number of political issues, including Shannon Airport, the Corrib gas controversy and the healthcare system.
When asked if he was behaving aggressively, Mr Larkin said he was entitled as a citizen to ask Mr O'Dea questions and described the conversation as "political banter".
Mr Larkin claimed the Minister punched him three to four times in the stomach before grabbing him by the throat.
"That man [Mr O'Dea] caught me by the throat; he attacked me with a vengeance. That is my view, the camera doesn't lie," Mr Larkin said.
Judge O'Donnell said he would give his decision in the case today at 9.30am.