A footballer accused of attacking a nightclub doorman told a court he "lost it" after he was insulted for being Irish.

Dublin-born Wimbledon player Des Byrne, 21, said bouncer Trevor Thirlwall, 28, called him an offensive name and then punched him several times in the head in an unprovoked assault.

The defender admitted throwing a bottle in the street afterwards, but claimed it was because he was "frustrated and angry" after being attacked and denied aiming it at anyone.

Mr Byrne, who said the night had begun with himself and two other footballers "having a laugh", is accused of attacking Mr Thirlwall with his friends, Chelsea stars John Terry and Jody Morris, at the exclusive Wellington club in Knightsbridge, central London, on 4 January.

I remember John swinging his hand and he caught Mr Thirlwall in the face with a dig

Des Byrne

Mr Terry is accused of glassing Mr Thirlwall in the face during the attack, which is alleged to have occurred after the players were ejected from the club for unruly behaviour.

Giving evidence on the ninth day of the footballers' trial at the Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court in London, Mr Byrne said: "When the doorman said the things he said, I lost it a little bit."

Mr Byrne claimed one bouncer, Shaun Brice, then grabbed him before Mr Thirlwall started punching him.

He said: "The doorman gave me a dig in the head, I fell backwards out of the doorway, I wasn't expecting a punch.

Scuffle broke out

"I was angry and I just wanted to get back in and tell him he was out of order."

When Mr Byrne went back through the doorway a scuffle broke out.

"I remember my top being pulled over my head, I remember getting a couple of digs, it happened like a blur, I just tried to get myself out of the doorway.

"I remember getting a dig then behind my left ear, I remember being on the floor then flat on the floor.

"I was trying to get away and I saw three of them attacking John.

"John had Mr Thirlwall on him now, he was scrapping with John, I remember John swinging his hand and he caught Mr Thirlwall in the face with a dig. I thought, to be honest, great dig."

Mr Byrne said Mr Terry did not have a bottle in his hand at the time.

When the fracas broke up Mr Byrne saw a bottle lying near his feet and he said he threw it towards Mr Thirlwall, Mr Brice and Mr Thirlwall's brother Matthew, who was also involved in the melee, but denied intending to hit them.

Charges denied

Mr Byrne was arrested at the scene and interviewed at Belgravia police station, where he told officers he had been drunk.

But in court he claimed he had not been drunk and that he had only had two vodka lime and lemonades.

Mr Terry denies wounding Mr Thirlwall with intent to cause grievance bodily harm and possessing a bottle as an offensive weapon.

Mr Byrne denies possessing a bottle as an offensive weapon, and all three players deny affray.

The trial was adjourned until Friday.