Jailed for his role in an attack on a nightclub bouncer that left the victim with a punctured lung

By Claire Henry and Jessica Magee

A nightclub bouncer suffered a punctured lung and other injuries when he was stabbed and punched by a gang of men in an unprovoked attack, a court has heard.

Niall Brooks (26) has been sentenced to three years and three months for his role in attacking the security man at Buzz nightclub, Red Cow Moran Hotel, on November 9, 2019, and for a separate charge of possessing crack cocaine for sale or supply at his home.

Brooks, of Millbrook Lawns in Tallaght, was initially charged with assault causing harm to the nightclub attendant, which he denied.

He took a trial date but later pleaded guilty to an amended charge of assault with intent to commit violent disorder.

In a separate offence, Brooks admitted possessing 150g of crack cocaine valued at €10,535  in an air vent in his kitchen, discovered when gardaí searched his home.

At a hearing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Brooks to two years for the nightclub assault and to a consecutive sentence of 15 months for possessing crack cocaine for sale or supply.

Judge Nolan acknowledged that other parties, including Niall Brooks’ brother Brandon, had been more seriously involved in assaulting the nightclub security guard.

But the judge pointed out that the “unfortunate” security man had sustained a punctured lung and two fractured ribs, among other injuries.

Brandon Brooks (25) of Deerpark Avenue, Kiltipper, Tallaght, was previously sentenced to two and a half years in prison for assault causing harm in the same incident, during which he threw a metal barrier at the security guard.

Judge Orla Crowe, who sentenced Brandon Brooks last October, said the security guard had been just doing his job trying to keep nightclub patrons safe when he sustained a “completely unprovoked attack by a mob”.

Garda Erica Mullaney told Pieter Le Vert, BL, prosecuting, that gardaí got a call on the night in question after an altercation broke out at the nightclub.

The court heard that a patron had been “bottled” inside the nightclub and was escorted out a side door.

The security guard had assisted in bringing in the injured man outside and then returned to his post at the main door.

Gda Mullaney said that while standing at the main door, the security guard saw a group of between six to ten men running towards him, including Brandon Brooks, who picked up a metal barrier and threw it him.

The security guard was then punched by the group of men up to ten times and was stabbed three times by a man who was not Brandon or Niall Brooks.

Niall Brooks was accused of throwing a single punch to the victim and was not involved in the stabbing or throwing of a metal barrier.

The security guard was taken to hospital where he was treated for his injuries, which included a punctured lung, three stab wounds to his back, two fractured ribs and a fractured elbow.

A victim impact report was handed into the court at a previous hearing and read aloud by prosecuting counsel.

It outlined that the security guard suffers from PTSD, insomnia, flashbacks and nightmares.

The victim said he has “self-destructive thoughts” and has “no trust in anyone anymore”.

In his statement, the victim said he had been “doing the odd night on the door to save for a mortgage and a wedding.”

Gardaí identified the perpetrators from CCTV at the nightclub and followed up with arrests and questioning.

Niall Brooks has 50 previous convictions, of which over 40 are for road traffic offences. Other previous offences include two assaults and one robbery.

Sarah Jane O’Callaghan BL, defending, said what had happened to the victim was “deplorable”.

She said Niall Brooks apologises sincerely for attacking the security man, whom she said was “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.

Counsel said Brooks’s friend was bottled on the night and her client “totally over-reacted” and threw one punch to the security guard.

She accepted that Brooks has had a “life of anti-social behaviour” and had been “lawless” but pointed out that he is still young, and – when not incarcerated – has been an “exceptional father” to his three children.

Counsel also said that Brooks had achieved numerous training certificates and had had a harrowing childhood, as described in a letter from his mother.

The court heard that the victim had accepted an offer of €5,000 presented last October by Brandon Brooks as a token of remorse.