Fan takes action against Brennan

The Ulster rugby fan allegedly punched by Trevor Brennan during the province's Heineken Cup tie against Toulouse in France is to take legal action against the former Irish international.

Patrick Bamford has instructed a lawyer in France to pursue criminal and civil proceedings against the player and he is also taking libel action against a number of news organisations which reported the incident.

TV footage showed Brennan marching into the crowd, confronting, and allegedly punching, Bamford during the clash.

Brennan claims he was verbally abused and his mother was insulted when he was warming up on the touchline with a number of other Toulouse substitutes. He has since apologised for the incident and insisted there was no sectarian abuse.

However, a statement from Mr Bamford, who lives and works in London, read: "Following the violent attack on me a fortnight ago during in which I suffered a number of injuries, I can confirm that I have instructed a lawyer in France to pursue criminal and civil proceedings against Mr Brennan."

He said he was also taking action against a number of media outlets which he accused of publishing false and damaging claims about his role in the incident.

"I am taking legal action against these organisations for the damage they have inflicted on my reputation," he said.

Mr Bamford added: "To attend a rugby match as an innocent spectator and be the victim of this particularly vicious physical assault was extremely shocking in itself, but to then have to be subjected to false claims about my behaviour was the final straw, leaving me with no alternative but to place the matter in the hands of libel lawyer Paul Tweed, to take the appropriate legal action."

Last week Brennan succeeded in having his ERC hearing over the incident adjourned after he was granted a temporary High Court injunction.

The former St Mary's College player was concerned for his rights if the hearing was "steamrolled through", prior to the determination of any action taken by Bamford.

Last Thursday, lawyers for both Brennan and the ERC agreed that a hearing would go ahead in Dublin this Friday, but only on whether or not it would prejudice a case in France.