Collins acted 'like a caged animal', court hears
A security supervisor has claimed former world boxing champion Steve Collins was "like a caged animal" shouting obscenities at an Albanian bouncer moments after he allegedly punched him in the face.
Mr Sean Jordan said he tried to calm the ex-boxer down and convinced him to get medical treatment for the wound on his hand before re-stationing the bouncer at the opposite side of the National Boxing Stadium "for his own safety."
Mr Collins (aged 44) of St Albans, Hertfordshire, England has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Adrialik Voda when he was refused entry at the stadium, on June 3, 2006.
Mr Jordan told prosecution counsel, Mr Sean Gillane BL, that he heard the accused inviting his doorman "to come and finish the job" an hour after the initial incident at the VIP fire-exit.
Mr Jordan described how he responded to a security alert at a VIP main gate where another colleague noticed a "commotion" at a nearby fire-exit.
He said he saw Mr Vodo at this fire-exit holding his mouth with blood running down his chin and Mr Collins pacing up and down a short distance away shouting "that he was going to f***ing kill him" (Mr Vodo).
Mr Jordan said he heard the former boxing star warn his doorman that "he'd be back" as he left to get medical attention from a nearby ambulance and described Mr Collins as so aggressive, he was afraid he'd also get hit.
The security boss said he got another radio call from Mr Vodo from his new position and that when he attended the scene, he saw Mr Collins asking the bouncer to get into his car so they could fight somewhere without witnesses.
Mr Jordan said he convinced Mr Collins to shake hands with the 37-year-old bouncer to "keep the peace" for the rest of the night.
He denied he was "grossly exaggerating" by comparing the accused to "a caged animal" when defence counsel, Mr Martin Dully BL, put it to him that he made no attempt to get his client's version of events.
Mr Jordan retorted that Mr Collins refused "to listen, to reason" moments after the alleged assault.
A ambulance crew member on duty that night told Mr Gillane he overheard the accused repeat "Don't push me" and explain he was working for RTE.
He agreed with Mr Dully that the accused appeared calm when he received medical attention in the ambulance.
