Man punched by Gerrard to launch civil case
The man punched in a nightclub by Liverpool football star Steven Gerrard is launching a civil action against the player and six of his friends, it emerged today.
Gerrard was cleared of affray last month following the attack on businessman Marcus McGee, but six of the Liverpool midfielder’s friends received suspended jail terms and community service.
McGee, 34, who lost a front tooth and suffered facial cuts in the fight last December, said he has told lawyers to begin civil action for compensation for the injuries he received.
The father of two from Southport told the Mail on Sunday: “I’ve got dental bills and legal fees arising from what happened. But, more importantly, I don’t think that justice was properly served.
“I still can’t believe that they all walked free – that they effectively got away with beating me up.”
He added: “Surely, if another group of lads were captured on camera doing what this lot did, then they would be facing jail, or at least one of them would as a warning to others that it is not acceptable to embark on mindless violence.”
A jury at Liverpool Crown Court acquitted Gerrard of unjustly attacking McGee in the Lounge Inn in Southport, Merseyside, on December 29 to celebrate Liverpool’s 5-1 demolition of Newcastle United hours earlier.
The player, of Formby, Merseyside, admitted hitting him but denied affray, saying it was in self-defence.
Five of Gerrard’s friends admitted affray and another pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour in a fight.
They were handed sentences of 18 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and were also ordered to perform 150 hours of unpaid work.
