Community service for ’Well star after assault in nightclub

Jul 2 2008 by Robert Mitchell, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL captain Paul Quinn has been ordered to carry out 150 hours’ community service after being convicted of a nightclub assault.

The 22-year-old Wishaw man had already been found guilty of the bust-up at a Glasgow nightspot last August but he was sentenced yesterday (Tuesday) at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Sean Murphy told the footballer that his punishment had been reduced because of the charity work he does for Motherwell FC.

Quinn’s his victim has already called for him to be stripped of the club captaincy.

Trainee civil engineer Andrew Smith (22) was left unconscious after being punched by Quinn in the attack and has claimed he still suffers hearing problems as a result.

Quinn took over the Motherwell captaincy after the death of Phil O’Donnell.

Andrew, of Nitshill in Glasgow, said: “He does not deserve the captaincy. He should be setting an example to impressionable young fans instead of behaving like a thug. The way he behaved is disgusting and a disgrace to football.

“Motherwell should look for a captain worthy of stepping into Phil O’Donnell’s shoes.”

The Motherwell defender punched Smith to the ground after he spotted him chatting to a girl at striker Ross McCormack’s 21st birthday bash.

Quinn then followed Smith outside the Glasgow nightclub and knocked him unconscious with another punch before going back inside to boast about the attack to friends.

He was later arrested after Mr Smith spotted his photo on the club’s website and reported the attack to the police.

At a previous appearance in Glasgow Sheriff Court, Quinn was convicted of assaulting Smith and knocking him unconscious to his injury on August 19 last year. The court heard that Mr Smith was chatting to a girl in the VIP lounge of the Classic Grand nightclub when Quinn walked over and asked “is this guy annoying you?” before striking Mr Smith with his shoulder.

Mr Smith, a trainee civil engineer, replied “do you want to f*** off mate?” before Quinn punched him to the ground.

The two men were quickly pulled apart and club bouncers asked Mr Smith to leave and escorted him outside.

Minutes later, Quinn and his friend appeared, threatened Mr Smith and said: “What you gonnae do now?”

The footballer then swung a punch at his victim and knocked him to the ground unconscious.

Mr Smith told the court: “I felt a punch and my eyesight started going dark and I could feel something hitting the back of my neck and then I fell unconscious.

“The next thing I remember was my friend’s girlfriend pouring water over my face to wake me.”

Amanda Currie (20) watched the attack from across the road before running to help Mr Smith, who eventually regained consciousness and went home.

The engineer visited the Southern General Hospital the next day where he was treated for a swollen jaw and given painkillers.

He now suffers from hearing difficulty in his right ear as a result of the attack.

The court heard that after the assault, Quinn went back inside the club where partygoer Graeme Findlay (24) spotted him boasting about it with friends.

Findlay said: “After leaving, Paul was back in the club about five or 10 minutes later and I saw gestures on the dancefloor as if there had been a fight and people were happy. They were laughing, tapping each other and throwing fake punches.”

Smith reported the incident to police 10 days later after Mr McCormack told him that some Motherwell players had arrived just before the attack. He checked the club website and instantly recognised Quinn as his attacker.

Quinn maintains his innocence but his solicitor told the court that his client would probably now face disciplinary action from Motherwell bosses.

The footballer had to sit out the last five games of the season with a broken jaw following an incident at a nightclub in April.