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| Gerrard 'sorry' over fight in bar | Gerrard 'sorry' over fight in bar |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has told a court he is "sorry" about a fight in which he punched a man in a Merseyside bar. | Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has told a court he is "sorry" about a fight in which he punched a man in a Merseyside bar. |
| The England midfielder has admitted hitting Marcus McGee, 34, in the Lounge Inn, Southport, in December last year but said he was defending himself. | The England midfielder has admitted hitting Marcus McGee, 34, in the Lounge Inn, Southport, in December last year but said he was defending himself. |
| But Mr Gerrard added: "I am certainly mistaken in thinking he was coming towards me to throw punches at me." | But Mr Gerrard added: "I am certainly mistaken in thinking he was coming towards me to throw punches at me." |
| The 29-year-old footballer, of Formby, Merseyside, denies affray. | The 29-year-old footballer, of Formby, Merseyside, denies affray. |
| Mr Gerrard was drinking in the Lounge Inn in Southport with friends in the early hours of 29 December last year to celebrate Liverpool's 5-1 win over Newcastle United. | Mr Gerrard was drinking in the Lounge Inn in Southport with friends in the early hours of 29 December last year to celebrate Liverpool's 5-1 win over Newcastle United. |
| "I certainly knew I had had a drink," Mr Gerrard told the court. | "I certainly knew I had had a drink," Mr Gerrard told the court. |
| "I was certainly in control of how I felt in my surroundings." | "I was certainly in control of how I felt in my surroundings." |
| It was very difficult at the time to explain to police why I did throw that first punch Steven Gerrard | It was very difficult at the time to explain to police why I did throw that first punch Steven Gerrard |
| He said he suffered "a lot of mither", not just in bars, but at traffic lights, shopping centres and in restaurants, because he was a footballer. | He said he suffered "a lot of mither", not just in bars, but at traffic lights, shopping centres and in restaurants, because he was a footballer. |
| "So I try to deal with it in the best way I can," he told the court. | "So I try to deal with it in the best way I can," he told the court. |
| "I try to talk to them and smooth it over." | "I try to talk to them and smooth it over." |
| Mr Gerrard said he was given permission by the club manageress to choose music from a stereo Mr McGee was operating. | Mr Gerrard said he was given permission by the club manageress to choose music from a stereo Mr McGee was operating. |
| He said he was looking at the music card, but it was "snatched" from his hand by Mr McGee. | He said he was looking at the music card, but it was "snatched" from his hand by Mr McGee. |
| Mr Gerrard said the pair had an argument four or five seconds and then he walked away, but returned a few minutes later. | Mr Gerrard said the pair had an argument four or five seconds and then he walked away, but returned a few minutes later. |
| Heated discussion | Heated discussion |
| The footballer said it was a heated discussion with Mr McGee and added that he wanted to "smooth things over". | The footballer said it was a heated discussion with Mr McGee and added that he wanted to "smooth things over". |
| Mr Gerrard said he hit Mr McGee to defend himself. | Mr Gerrard said he hit Mr McGee to defend himself. |
| "It was very difficult at the time to explain to police why I did throw that first punch. | "It was very difficult at the time to explain to police why I did throw that first punch. |
| Now I know, obviously, he had been struck, reacted and thought the strike was by me Steven Gerrard | |
| "We were arguing and I told the police I felt that Marcus came towards me and that's why I raised my arms. | "We were arguing and I told the police I felt that Marcus came towards me and that's why I raised my arms. |
| "I firmly believed Marcus came towards me to hit me." | "I firmly believed Marcus came towards me to hit me." |
| Mr Gerrard described raising his left arm and swinging it towards Mr McGee and making contact with him with his wrist. | Mr Gerrard described raising his left arm and swinging it towards Mr McGee and making contact with him with his wrist. |
| He said: "I grabbed the back of his jumper as he moved forward to me. | He said: "I grabbed the back of his jumper as he moved forward to me. |
| "When I had hold of Marcus, I remember swinging my right hand two or three times." | "When I had hold of Marcus, I remember swinging my right hand two or three times." |
| In Mr McGee's evidence he said he did not know that John Doran, a friend of Mr Gerrard, threw the first punch. | In Mr McGee's evidence he said he did not know that John Doran, a friend of Mr Gerrard, threw the first punch. |
| Mr Gerrard reiterated that he was unaware that Doran, 29, had lashed out and therefore, when Mr McGee came forward at him, he thought he was in danger. | Mr Gerrard reiterated that he was unaware that Doran, 29, had lashed out and therefore, when Mr McGee came forward at him, he thought he was in danger. |
| Asked how he felt now, Gerrard said: "I am certainly mistaken in thinking he was coming towards me to throw punches at me. | Asked how he felt now, Gerrard said: "I am certainly mistaken in thinking he was coming towards me to throw punches at me. |
| "Now I know, obviously, he had been struck, reacted and thought the strike was by me and he came into me and that's when I reacted. | "Now I know, obviously, he had been struck, reacted and thought the strike was by me and he came into me and that's when I reacted. |
| "I am sorry about the whole incident." | "I am sorry about the whole incident." |
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| CCTV of Gerrard incident released | |
| Doran, of Woodlands Road, Ian Gerrard Smith, 19, of Hilary Avenue, and Paul McGrattan, 31, of Linden Drive, all Huyton, have all admitted affray. | Doran, of Woodlands Road, Ian Gerrard Smith, 19, of Hilary Avenue, and Paul McGrattan, 31, of Linden Drive, all Huyton, have all admitted affray. |
| Accrington Stanley footballers Robert Grant, 19, of Enstone Avenue, Litherland, and Ian Dunbavin, 28, of Guildford Road, Southport, have also admitted affray. | Accrington Stanley footballers Robert Grant, 19, of Enstone Avenue, Litherland, and Ian Dunbavin, 28, of Guildford Road, Southport, have also admitted affray. |
| John McGrattan, 34, of Rimmer Avenue, Huyton, has admitted threatening behaviour after denying affray. | John McGrattan, 34, of Rimmer Avenue, Huyton, has admitted threatening behaviour after denying affray. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |