Three men have been fined by magistrates after a fight in a Douglas pub.

Benjamin Binns, aged 30, of Derwent Drive, Onchan, Mark Rees, of Johnny Watterson’s Lane, Douglas, and Ismael Durte Ferreira, of Rosehill Mews, Douglas, all admitted disorderly behaviour on licensed premises when they appeared in court.

Binns was fined £500 while Rees, aged 30, and Ferreira both received a £200 penalty with all three ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how, on September 30, police were called to Quids Inn on Douglas promenade after a report of a disturbance.

When officers arrived Binns was sitting in a chair being treated by paramedics after suffering a broken nose.

Ferreira was interviewed by police and said he had been approached in the pub by Binns, whom he did not know.

He said Binns put his arm around him and told him there was a man in the toilets performing a sex act then said: ’Are you his gay friend?’

retaliate

Ferreira said Binns then headbutted him which prompted him to retaliate by punching Binns.

Rees was then said to have intervened and punched Ferreira in the face.

CCTV was later viewed confirming the fight.

Rees was interviewed and said he had been out with Binns when he saw him talking to Ferreira.

He said he assumed they were friends and had not seen Binns’ headbutt but had then assumed Ferreira was starting on his friend.

Defending Ferreira in court, his advocate Paul Glover said that his client had given a full honest account of events to the police.

The court heard that Ferreira had no previous convictions.

Mr Glover said: ’We would ask the court to accept there was provocation, verbal and physical. Mr Ferreira was verbally provoked then headbutted, reacting to the situation.

’Maybe it was understandable but it was not acceptable, it was completely deplorable.’

Binns was represented by Kate Alexander who said: ’Mr Binns accepts from the CCTV footage he started the altercation.

’He is embarrassed and ashamed by his actions. He had been out with friends for a meal.

foolish

’He was not drunk at the time of the offence, he was simply foolish.

Advocate Louise Cooil, representing Rees, said: ’Mr Rees initially came over to stop the incident but his actions went too far.

’He accepts it was inappropriate and unacceptable. He has not been before the court since 2010.’