Collingwood's Dane Swan joined in 'savage' attack jury told

COLLINGWOOD star Dane Swan joined in a "vicious, thuggish, savage and brutal" assault on a cleaner at Federation Square, a jury was told.

COLLINGWOOD star Dane Swan joined in a "vicious, thuggish, savage and brutal" assault on a cleaner at Federation Square, a jury was told.

Michael Heaton QC said Swan, along with Kade Carey, who is the nephew of Wayne Carey, and former Williamstown player Aaron Ramsay, punched and kicked Claudio Celano during the attack.

As a result of the assault Mr Heaton said Mr Celano, 45, was left with fractures to his eye socket, cheekbone and the bridge of his nose, he coughed up blood and lost consciousness.

“This case is about an incidence of late night violence in Melbourne,” Mr Heaton told the jury in the civil trial.

Mr Celano was a cleaner at Federation Square and was working overnight when the incident occurred.

In his opening address, the QC said the footy players were followed by security guards and Mr Celano after an incident minutes earlier in Finders St where Carey body-slammed a moving car, cracking its windscreen,.

The County Court jury viewed CCTV footage of the incident from four cameras at Federation Square.

In the first part of the footage two female occupants of the damaged car are seen running through the Federation Square atrium.

As the footage, from the early hours of December 21, 2003, was played Mr Heaton described it to the jury.

He said it showed Swan, Carey and Ramsay along with three security guards, Mr Celano and the two women standing at River Terrace.

Carey was heard to swear at the guards and say “”I’ll take yous all” before grabbing security guard Jesse James, and attempting to choke him.

Carey then struck another security guard on the cheek and in a series of rolling incidents that followed Mr Celano and Mr James were assaulted.

At one point Mr Celano was on the ground being punched and kicked by Swan, Carey and Ramsay, the QC said, and he was also hit with a Maglite torch.

Mr Heaton told the jury they could see Swan run past Carey and Ramsay and punch Mr Celano when he appeared to be trying to get up from the ground.

Swan is later seen to run off in the footage and then police officers arrive and use capsicum spray on Carey.

Mr Heaton said the spray did not work and it took four officers to subdue Carey and two to arrest Ramsay.

Mr Celano has sued Swan, Carey and Ramsay for damages in the County Court.

Mr Heaton said for months after the assault his client was unable to work or continue his part-time music career in a covers band and Workcover refused him benefits because the assault occurred during his meal break.

"You can imagine how miserable and painful Christmas was in 2003 for the plaintiff," Mr Heaton said.

Mr Heaton said Mr Celano had to give evidence at a committal hearing for Swan, Carey and Ramsay and found it a stressful and frightening experience.

The trial before Judge Paul Lacava continues.