More civil actions over nightclub doormen likely

An increase in civil actions over assaults by nightclub bouncers is likely following this week's case in which a Dublin couple were awarded €27,400. The award was in a civil case against Lillie's Bordello in relation to injuries caused by the nightclub's bouncers.

Yesterday, the Law Society said more people would now be aware that they could take a civil action if they were assaulted by a bouncer. Mr Ken Murphy, the Law Society's director-general, said that people were not sufficiently aware that they were entitled to take a civil action in such cases.

"There may well be an increase in cases, but it would be much better to see a decrease in instances of people engaging in what seems to be completely unwarranted physical violence," he said.

Making the €27,400 award in the Circuit Civil Court on Thursday, Judge Joseph Mathews said that Mr Vincent Lawlor and his wife, Pamela, had been the victims of a "commando-like assault" by doormen.

Speaking to The Irish Times yesterday, Ms Lawlor encouraged people who had been victims of assault by bouncers to take legal action. She said she had no idea of the number of people who had been victims of such assaults until she took her case.

"Everyone you talk to has similar stories to tell or they know someone with a similar story. It happens every day of the week."

Lillie's Bordello had claimed that Mr Lawlor had been aggressive and argumentative, but Ms Lawlor rejected this. Even if he had been, she said, the bouncers had no right to act in the way they did.

Yesterday, Ms Valerie Roe, the manager of Lillie's Bordello, said she was very unhappy with the outcome, but the club had no choice but to accept the judge's verdict. She said she had worked in several clubs both here and abroad and had never seen a club winning such a case.

The odds were stacked against clubs because doormen "seemed to have a bad name", she said. "The image that they are violent gougers is completely unjust and unfair, particularly in the case of Lillie's." If bouncers behaved in the way they were often characterised, clubs would be out of business.

Ms Roe said she spent four hours on the door of Lillie's Bordello every night and had experienced all sorts of abuse from members of the public. "I've been spat at, I've had bottles thrown at me and I've never retaliated. Patience is a virtue in this business."

Ms Lawlor said many cases like hers were never taken because gardaí did not seem to take the issue seriously. A Garda spokeswoman said it was unfair to say that gardaí did not treat such incidents seriously.

Gardaí had investigated the Lawlors' case and had prepared a file, but the DPP had decided against prosecution, the spokeswoman said.

She said all complaints alleging assault or violence were fully investigated.

Licensing of bouncers, it is expected, will eventually be introduced under the Private Security Services Bill which the former minister for justice, Mr John O'Donoghue, had begun to steer through the Oireachtas last year.

The Bill is awaiting second stage and with summer holidays, a change of minister and the usual tabling of amendments, it will be some time before it comes into force.