Source: Telegraph
Steven Gerrard to appear in court following alleged nightclub attack
England star Gerrard, 28, is due to appear at North Sefton Magistrates' Court, in Southport after part-time disc jockey Marcus McGee was allegedly left with bruises and a missing tooth after a fight in the town's Lounge Club on December 29. [LNB]He is charged, along with two other men, John Doran, 29, and Ian Gerard Smith, 19, both of Huyton. [LNB]At least 25 police officers are also expected to be manning the court to prevent disorder, while a Merseyside Police spokesperson said the public gallery would be closed. [LNB]A court spokesperson said: "The court manager met with police and decided the public gallery would not be open for safety reasons." [LNB]Police last week arrested 28-year-old Ian Dunbavin, the goalkeeper of Accrington Stanley Football Club in connection with the brawl. [LNB]Coleen Rooney's Brother Anthony McLoughlin, 19, was also detained on suspicion of assault. He was released without charge on police bail. [LNB]Gerrard had been celebrating his side's 5-1 win over Newcastle United, in which he scored twice, when a row was said to have broken out involving Mr McGee about the music being played at The Lounge Inn. [LNB]Gerrard is understood to have asked Mr McGee, a friend of the restaurant's owner, if he could borrow a swipe card which staff must use to operate the music system behind the bar. [LNB]Mr McGee is said to have refused to provide his card. [LNB]Gerrard has been a key part of Liverpool's push for a first title in almost 20 years. He has also been an influential member of Fabio Capello's England side, who have made an unbeaten start to their World Cup qualifying campaign. [LNB]He emerged from the half-hour hearing to thank photographers and a handful of supporters.[LNB]Merseyside Police had cordoned off the court with steel riot barriers after a "Support Stevie G" group was set up on the social networking site Facebook.[LNB]Police sources said they expected as many as several hundred supporters and defended their decision to close the actual court to the public on safety grounds.[LNB]
