A bouncer who claims former world champion Steve Collins assaulted him after he refused him entry into the National Stadium gave his evidence of the incident in court today.
Mr Collins (44) of St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Adriatik Vodo Vodo on June 3rd, 2006 at the National Stadium, South Circular Road, Dublin.
Mr Vodo (39), who is originally from Albania, told Patrick McGrath, prosecuting, that he was working on the door letting media and VIPs into the stadium on the night.
He was told by his employer Sean Jordan that he was “not to allow anyone who did not have a pass in”.
He said when Collins approached him at the door he asked to see his pass and Collins asked him “Do you know my name?”
“I didn’t know who he was,” said Mr Vodo and displayed to the jury how he held his right arm at the door and his left arm stretched out to block Mr Collins from gaining entry.
Mr Vodo said the colour in Mr Collins’s face changed to white and he told Collins to calm down and asked again to see his pass.
He said he radioed his employer Mr Jordan to come to the door and said Mr Collins told him if he did not move in two seconds he would break the bouncer’s head, saying: “I will put your teeth in the floor and then you will know my name.”
“He then told me the two seconds were up and he looked me in the eyes with his body shaking from left to right and then he punched me with his closed fist hitting my two front teeth,” said Mr Vodo.
Mr Vodo said he after he received the punch it was like “an electric shock”, his eyes were watering and his mouth was full of blood.
He said he noticed Mr Collins’ hand was bleeding and saw him go to an ambulance parked in the car park for medical attention.
Mr Jordan had arrived at the door and when Mr Vodo pointed out Mr Collins to him, Mr Jordan asked him what the bouncer had done.
Mr Vodo said Mr Collins told him: “I am not finished with you. I will be back again.”
Mr Jordan moved Mr Vodo to the main door of the stadium and later moved him to a fire exit on the north side of the stadium. Mr Vodo said Mr Collins then arrived in an Audi car and asked him to get in, saying: “You and me will finish this tonight.”
Mr Vodo said he asked Mr Collins what he wanted from him as he was there to do his job. He said he told the boxer to calm down.
He said Mr Collins asked him “who will pay for my hand”. Mr Vodo said he told him “the person who broke my front teeth will pay for your hand”.
Under cross-examining Pat Purcell, defending, put it to Mr Vodo that his client had gone in and out of the same door previously that evening as he was working as a commentator for RTÉ on the night, to which the witness replied he could have done.
Mr Vodo denied pushing or lunging at Mr Collins prior to receiving the punch and denied striking him with his arm. He said that was the last time he worked security man as he “was too scared to work on the door”.
The trial continues before Judge Anthony Hunt and a jury of six men and six women.