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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gerrard co-accused admit affray | Gerrard co-accused admit affray |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Six co-defendants of footballer Steven Gerrard have admitted being involved in a brawl in a Merseyside bar. | Six co-defendants of footballer Steven Gerrard have admitted being involved in a brawl in a Merseyside bar. |
| They pleaded guilty to their involvement in an incident at the Lounge Inn, Southport, last year, as their trial was due to get under way. | |
| Mr Gerrard, 29, has denied affray and will now face trial alone as it begins at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday. | |
| The midfielder, of Formby, Merseyside, had been celebrating Liverpool's 5-1 win over Newcastle United at the bar. | The midfielder, of Formby, Merseyside, had been celebrating Liverpool's 5-1 win over Newcastle United at the bar. |
| Marcus McGee was injured in the bar in the early hours of 29 December 2008. | Marcus McGee was injured in the bar in the early hours of 29 December 2008. |
| Five of the defendants have admitted affray and one admitted a lesser charge of section 4 threatening behaviour. | Five of the defendants have admitted affray and one admitted a lesser charge of section 4 threatening behaviour. |
| Football loyalties | |
| John McGrattan, 34, of Rimmer Avenue, Huyton, admitted threatening behaviour after denying affray. | |
| Those who admitted affray were: Ian Gerrard Smith, 19, of Hilary Avenue; John Doran, 29, of Woodlands Road; and Paul McGrattan, 31, of Linden Drive, all Huyton. | |
| Accrington Stanley footballers Robert Grant, 19, of Enstsone Avenue, Litherland, and Ian Dunbavin, 28, of Guildford Road, Southport, also admitted affray. | |
| A jury panel was asked questions about their football loyalty by Judge Henry Globe during selection ahead of the trial. | |
| He said: "Do you confirm that you would be able to put aside any football loyalty or partiality and to take and abide by the strict terms of the oath or affirmation?" | |
| The hearing was adjourned while the panel answered the questions. |