Court Hears Glasgow Rugby Player Was 'Knocked Unconscious'

A GLASGOW Hawk rugby player was knocked unconscious when he was attacked on a Halloween night out, a court heard. Ally Maclay, 30, told Glasgow Sheriff Court he was unexpectedly hit on the face then assaulted on the floor, at Barbeque Kings restaurant. He said he had been in Viper nightclub with team mates and had gone into the food joint afterwards. Mr Maclay claimed he spoke to Glasgow Warrior rugby player Ryan Wilson, who the court heard was dressed as Batman, then was hit on the left cheek. The teacher told the jury he went into the fetal position while he was attacked on October 27, 2013. He was giving evidence at the trial of Warriors players Wilson, 25, Ryan Grant, 29, and Rory Hughes, 21. They are accused of, whilst acting together, assaulting Mr Maclay at the food joint on Great Western Road. It is alleged Grant, from Hyndland, Glasgow, with Wilson and Hughes, punched him on the face, knocked him to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked him on the face and body to his severe injury. Wilson, from Bearsden, Glasgow is accused of assaulting Gavin Quinn at the food joint. He faces another charge of assaulting Mr Quinn, along with Hughes, from King's Park, Glasgow by repeatedly punching him on the head. Mr Maclay told the court he went to Barbeque Kings after being at the nearby nightclub, Viper, with his team mates. He said he Warriors had their night out at the same time. The alleged victim, who was dressed up as one half of the duo Tweeledee and Tweeledum, said he saw his friend Gavin Quinn inside and went to speak to him. Mr Maclay said: "He told me that he had an altercation with some of the guys that were in Barbeque Kings at the time." He claimed they then joined the queue to get food and that he saw Mr Quinn speaking to people who he had the altercation with, including Ryan Wilson. Mr Maclay told the court he went over to make sure everything "was okay" and to "calm the situation down". Procurator fiscal depute Alastair Youngson, prosecuting, asked: "Do you remember if there was any conversation with Gavin and anyone else that was there?" Mr Maclay answered: "I'm sure I told him to 'Calm down and leave it'." Asked if that was aimed at anyone he said: "I directed it at Ryan." Mr Youngson suggested to him that he said "Leave it Batman" and Mr Maclay replied "Possibly, because he was dressed as Batman." The rugby star - who was captain of the Hawks at the time of the alleged assault - said he was then hit in the face. He told the court: "At the time I didn't know who had hit me but having seen CCTV I know who hit me." Mr Maclay said he did not remember how much force was used but that he lost his balance and fell on the floor. Mr Youngson asked if he was surprised by what happened and the witness answer "Absolutely, I didn't expect it to kick off in any way." He told the jury: "I just remember being on the ground and being attacked whilst being on the ground." Mr Maclay said he was hit on the face and body with "numerous blows" and went into the fetal position and covered his face to protect himself. He added: "There was one blow in particular that caught me right in the eye, not sure whether it was a kick or a punch or what it was. "It was most noticeable and quite a sobering moment, it was almost like someone put a tennis ball in my eye socked and pushed it right back." The alleged victim said that was when he knew "that wasn't quite right". The jury heard he was "woken up" by friends and was unable open his eye. He said he called the police and was taken to the Western Infirmary. CCTV footage of Barbeque Kings from the night of the alleged assaults was shown to Mr Maclay. Asked to comment on what was happening in it, he said he saw Wilson drag Mr Quinn out of the booth he was sitting at. Grant, from Hyndland, Wilson, from Bearsden and Hughes from King's Park, all Glasgow deny the charges and the trial before sheriff Martin Jones QC continues.