THREE MEN from Merthyr Tydfil are facing serious charges following a violent incident at The Boathouse in Saundersfoot on Friday (Oct 28) 2022.

James O’Neill, 53, is accused of grievous bodily harm with intent. His son, Aron O’Neill, 25, and nephew, Shaun Nicholas, 24, are charged with causing actual bodily harm.

Confrontation caught on CCTV

The altercation, captured on CCTV, began after a reported dispute involving James O’Neill and the complainant, Stephen Kanauros. Witnesses testified that O’Neill struck Kanauros to the ground after an earlier confrontation with staff and an alleged incident involving Kanauros’ wife.

James O’Neill has previous convictions for actual bodily harm, dating back to 1989.

Witness accounts

Key witnesses gave evidence at Swansea Crown Court today, detailing the events leading up to the violent encounter.

Jasmine Kanauros, the victim’s daughter, recounted how her stepmother, Kate, was shoved by James O’Neill while dancing near the door. “She stumbled backwards, and that got everyone’s attention,” Jasmine said. Her father intervened, shouting, “That’s my wife,” before rushing to her defence. Jasmine described the moment their heads collided and hearing someone shout, “He’s biting him.”

Adam Bolwell, who was with Jasmine at the time, also described the escalation. “Stephen got up between Kate and the man, and then the kerfuffle happened again,” he said, adding that he later saw James O’Neill latch onto Stephen’s face during the struggle.

Harry Lewis, another witness, described the chaotic scene. “There was grappling, grabbing—so many people around him. It was like a tornado of people,” he said. Lewis also saw blood on the victim’s lip and a towel being used to stem the bleeding.

James Olliet, another onlooker, testified about seeing punches thrown and the aftermath of the fight. “I couldn’t tell if the blood on the man’s face was his or someone else’s,” he said. After the defendants walked away, shouting at staff, police arrived and reportedly recovered a piece of the victim’s lip near the pub’s entrance.

Gruesome discovery

Colin Barrett, a member of the band playing at the pub that night, testified about the gruesome discovery. “We had just started playing ‘Proud Mary’ when I noticed something going on,” Barrett said. Later, while loading equipment into a van, he found a piece of the victim’s lip outside the pub door. “I took a photo and zoomed in—it was the lip,” he told the court.

Medical testimony

Medical experts highlighted the severity of Stephen Kanauros’ injuries. A facial and plastic surgeon testified that the victim suffered a significant wound to his lower lip, a gum tear, and puncture wounds to his face and fingers. “The patient was taken to the theatre under local anaesthetic,” the surgeon said.

The trial continues.