Pair accused of savagely beating bare knuckle fighter in West Cornforth pub walk free from court

Any prosecutions for the night of extreme violence - said to have involved knives, a baseball bat and a single-barrelled shotgun - are now unlikely.

Self-styled 'King of the Gypsies' Barney McGinley was said to have had his head smashed open and his right hand crushed when trouble flared at The Flintlock Inn, West Cornforth, County Durham, in February.

The 35-year-old travelling prize-fighter blamed cage-fighter Michael Holmes, 31, and his step-father, George Watson, 40 - but both denied being there.

There was applause from the public gallery when the pair were acquitted yesterday (Wednesday, June 19).

Mr Watson shouted: "That's what you get for listening to knackers."

Mr Holmes - who fights under the name Rocky - yelled "F***ing not guilty" as he left.

Prosecutor Adrian Dent told Teesside Crown Court that police had spoken by telephone to Mr McGinley.

"He said that he was from a large family and the others involved in the case were also from a large family.

"There was mention of a shaking of hands. He said he was not going to continue with the case.

"There had been some sort of rapprochement within the two families, some mention was made about an engagement between two people that had solved matters."

Footage from Mr McGinley's brutal fights feature on the YouTube website, where he describes himself as 'The Greatest' and 'King of the Gypsies'.

The judge Recorder Amanda Rippon said she had viewed the videos and he did not appear to be the type to have been intimidated into not attending court.

The case collapsed after father-of-two Mr McGinley - later described by the judge as a liar - was said to have left the North-East for Ireland on Monday night.

It later emerged his story of being driven to Hollyhead with his sons to catch a ferry was untrue, and he was infact in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

After confirming that he wanted to withdraw, Miss Recorder Rippon, entered not guilty verdicts telling Mr Holmes and Mr Watson: "There should be no stain on your character."

Both denied wounding Mr McGinley with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on February 25.

Mr Watson also denied assaulting Mr McGinley's 15-year-old son, causing actual bodily harm, plus possessing an imitation firearm, a shotgun, and a knife.

His stepson Mr Holmes also denied possessing an offensive weapon - a baseball bat - and a knife, during what court papers described as "serious violence".

The pair have been on remand since their arrests, but were freed yesterday (Wednesday, June 19) to return to their homes in West Cornforth - Mr Holmes to Hawthorne Terrace and Mr Watson to Cedar Terrace.

Michael Hodson, for Mr Holmes, said: "Mr McGinley has a certain reputation in the ring and suggestions he is a man who can be frightened off is fanciful."

Mr Watson's barrister, Mr Morrison, added: "Your Honour will have seen his pronouncements to the world about how he fears no-one."

The trial was due to begin at Durham Crown Court on Monday but was halted because of problems finding enough jurors.

On Tuesday, after the case had been switched to Teesside Crown Court, there were delays because Mr McGinley did not show after leaving his hotel the previous night.

The court heard no witnesses other than Mr McGinley and his young sons placed Mr Holmes and Mr Watson at the scene, and their defence was they were not there.

Mr Dent said: "The police and the Crown Prosecution Service did everything reasonable to secure the attendance of Mr McGinley and his sons to court."

The Flintlock Inn had its licence revoked following the incident and in a separate court hearing, landlady Charlene Watson, who is Mr Holme's mother, was yesterday (Wednesday, June 19) fighting to have it reinstated allowing her to reopen.

WARNING: The video below contains strong language that some viewers may find offensive

This video from YouTube shows Barney McGinley (black jacket with flat cap) and family challenge a rival traveller family to a bare knuckle fight.