stairs had threatened to throw him moments earlier, a court has heard.

Manslaughter accused Kevin Pollock is said to have told victim Craig McGavern: "If you are not down the stairs in two seconds, I'll throw you down the stairs.'' Flanagan's bouncer Ron Davies told Pollock's Supreme Court trial that the bloody incident came in the middle of his first night on the job.

Mr. Davies told Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller that Pollock, 36, made the threat at the top of the stairs in the Emporium Building.

But he also said McGavern, 51, was a "tough-looking character'' who confronted another doorman, saying: "You are going to pay.'' And Mr. Davies said the victim grabbed Pollock's radio, saying: "Are you going to call the Police? Call the f***ing Police.'' The nightmare unfolded after McGavern and his son Nick started arguing with Flanagan's staff on July 17 last year.

Mr. Davies, 20, explained how manager Dave Cromwell began fighting with Mr.

McGavern junior when he spotted him smashing a payphone.

He said the victim's son, bloodied in the fight, swore at the doorman before being escorted with his father.

But McGavern senior returned to the bar minutes later, saying his son had lost his sunglasses in the payphone brawl.

Pollock joined bouncers to search for the shades but they could not be found, as Nick McGavern waited at the bottom of the stairs.

Then the injured man's father started threatening Mr. Cromwell in the Flanagan's sports bar, according to Mr. Davies.

The bouncer said he was told to remove Mr. McGavern from the premises by Pollock, who has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.

Mr. Davies said: "I got Mr. McGavern by his arm and told him that he had to come with me.

"He was coming, but he was still telling Dave (Cromwell) he was going to pay for what he had done. He was pointing at him as well.'' Questioned by Crown counsel Patrick Doherty, he added: "I was letting Mr.

McGavern know that this was my first night and he should not give me a hard time in front of the manager.

"As we got to the top of the stairs, Mr. McGavern must have said something that upset Kevin and he must have had enough.

"And he said if he was not down the stairs in two seconds, he would throw him down the stairs.'' Mr. Doherty asked: "How did Kevin sound when he said that?'' Mr. Davies said: "Serious. I was shocked at what he said.'' The 275-pound doorman said Pollock took one step and pushed Mr. McGavern in the chest with both hands.

He said Mr. McGavern was not aggressive to Pollock, adding: "He was harmless.

He may have been threatening but he was going out.'' He said Pollock "froze'' and said "Oh s**t'' when Mr. McGavern hit his head on the landing.

And Mr. Davies said an Oasis bouncer downstairs told him to call 911 and get ice before the ambulance came.

"I went back upstairs and Dave instructed me to mop up the blood,'' he added.

But Mark Pettingill, representing Pollock, said: "Do you recall Nick McGavern saying to his father: `How could you let them do that? How could you let them just beat me up'?'' Mr. Davies confirmed he had heard the remark and said Craig McGavern appeared to be making a threat when he later confronted Mr. Cromwell.

He also said Mr. McGavern was swearing and pointing as the atmosphere became more tense.

"But the outstanding thing that I heard him say was: `You are going to pay', because he said it so many times,'' he added Mr. Pettingill asked: "Do you recall Mr. McGavern saying to Mr. Cromwell: `I know where the f*** to find you. You ain't f***ing safe'?'' Mr. Davies said: "I can't recall. He could have.'' The eight-man, four-woman jury was expected to pay a site visit to Flanagan's last night.

The trial continues today.