Irish soccer player on affray charge

A young Irishman was one of three soccer players involved in a "disgraceful and violent" brawl at a London nightclub in January, Middlesex Crown Court heard yesterday.

Wimbledon defender Mr Des Byrne (21) was jointly charged with affray and with possessing an offensive weapon during an incident involving two Chelsea players, Mr Jody Morris (23) and Mr John Terry (21), a former England Under-21 captain.

The court heard that Mr Byrne's solicitor told police he would be insisting that he had acted in self-defence. He denied both charges.

Mr Jeremy Donne, prosecuting, said that the incident occurred on January 4th after the three men had been asked to leave the Wellington Club in Knightsbridge, a popular haunt for celebrities.

Mr Donne said that Mr Morris had become very aggressive towards a doorman, Mr Trevor Thirlwall, "using such unimaginative unpleasantness as: 'Do you know how much I earn? I earn more in a day than you earn in a week. Do you know who we are? We could get you sacked'."

Mr Donne said that the incident escalated into an attack on Mr Thirlwall and ended in a brawl in which he suffered wounds to his face caused by a bottle wielded by Mr Terry. "Miraculously, the bottle did not break on impact. It is terrifying to think what would have happened if it had."

He also claimed that Mr Byrne had armed himself with a bottle and had run at two bouncers.

It was alleged that, after Mr Thirlwall had been helped back into the club by colleagues, at least one bottle was thrown at them.

Mr Terry pleaded not guilty to one count of wounding Mr Thirlwall with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one of possessing a glass bottle as an offensive weapon.

Mr Morris also denied the charge of affray and issued a statement in which he claimed he had had no part in the scuffle.

The case continues today and is expected to last two to three weeks.