A 26-year-old Castletown man has been convicted of common assault after an incident outside the Outback in Barrack Street.

Dean Anthony Kinley, of Hope Street, admitted the offence but is disputing the prosecution facts and a Newton Hearing will now be held.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the court that the victim of the assault was outside the Douglas nightclub on March 26 at 3am.

He claimed he heard Kinley say that ’all scousers are murderers’ because of Hillsborough, a reference to the disaster at a football match in 1989 which saw 96 die.

The victim said he challenged Kinley about his comments and Kinley then put his hands around his throat, squeezing until he fell to the ground.

The man said that he knew Kinley from playing football against him. A taxi driver was said to have witnessed the incident and he took the victim to police headquarters.

The driver also looked up Kinley on Facebook and identified him.

Kinley was arrested and when interviewed admitted he was involved in an altercation outside the Outback.

He said that he did not think he would have been drinking as he was playing football the next day.

Kinley denied making the Hillsborough comment and said he did not choke the man.

In court he entered a basis of plea saying he had only put one hand on the man’s neck, that he did not make the comment, and did not cause him to fall to the ground.

Kinley also said that he was approached by the man and provoked by him.

Prosecutor Ms Braidwood rejected the basis and magistrates ruled that it would make a material difference to sentencing.

A pre-Newton Hearing will be held on July 9.

Bail was granted in the sum of £250.