The trial of a Dublin man accused of murder has been told that he was attacked after an altercation with the deceased, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
A doorman at the city-centre pub where the stabbing took place three years ago said three men came from the front of the pub and started "laying into" the man who has been charged with murder.
James Morgan, Lower Mount Pleasant Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin, denies murdering James Hand (29), Mountjoy Square, Dublin, between August 22nd and September 5th, 2002, at The Meeting Pint pub in Upper Dorset Street.
It is alleged that, after Mr Morgan told the bar-girl, Amanda Kavanagh - a niece of Mr Hand - that he was barred from The Meeting Pint, she asked him to leave, but he returned at least three times in an agitated state.
After Mr Hand "had words" with him, an altercation allegedly broke out and Mr Hand was stabbed.
Another niece, Donna Hand (19), told the court that she was working in the pub that night with her cousin. After 8pm she saw her uncle at the poker machine. A few minutes later Mr Morgan came in.
"James [ Hand] asked me was that the fellow who was talking to Amanda and I said Yes. James went over to Jimmy Morgan and asked him was he annoying Amanda."
After Mr Hand went back to his seat at the poker machine, Mr Morgan followed him over. Ms Hand said she saw Mr Morgan "taking something out". She thought it was a screwdriver. "I saw him sticking it into James [ Hand]," she said. The schoolgirl, who was then aged 16, ran from the pub.
Tara Grogan (19) was visiting Ms Hand at work in The Meeting Pint that evening, the court heard. She said she saw Mr Hand approach Mr Morgan telling him to "leave his niece alone".
Mr Morgan raised his voice and said "Are you serious?" and approached Mr Hand at the poker machine at the back of the pub.
Ms Grogan said a struggle broke out and the pair tumbled towards a sofa. She first thought Mr Morgan was hitting Mr Hand "but he was actually stabbing James".
David Keogh, manager of the pub that night, said he saw Mr Morgan put a knife back into his waistband when he attempted to break up the fight. Mr Keogh said that, as he was restraining him, he kept saying he had to carry a knife for his own protection.
One of the two doormen who came duty at 8pm as the stabbing occurred told the court a second altercation occurred involving Mr Morgan. Darren Wyse said that, after Mr Morgan allegedly gave the knife to the barman and the two doormen, three men came from the front of the pub and started "laying into" him.
Cross-examined by George Birmingham SC, Mr Wyse agreed that Mr Morgan was hit over the head with a bar stool and was punched and kicked. Mr Wyse denied that he was involved in the altercation.
The other security man, Damien Sheehan, said he was pushed aside by the three men who hit Mr Morgan, who then fled through the fire exit when Garda sirens were heard approaching.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Carney.