part-time journalist as he removed him from a union meeting.

But Colin Simmons, of Tribe Road No. 3, Pembroke, admitted leading George Rushe from the meeting by his arm.

Magistrates' Court heard that Simmons was removing Rushe for his own safety.

Businessman and former Police prosecutor, Rushe is privately charging Simmons with assault, violently interfering with the free exercise of his political liberty, behaving in a threatening manner and using threatening behaviour at a public meeting whereby a breach of the peace was likely to occur.

Simmons told the court his BIU posts included treasurer, chairperson of the disciplinary committee and manager of the gas station and maintenance department. "I saw him (Rushe) during the period when the union was going through its legal and industrial disputes near the end of June,'' said Simmons.

"I was marshal of a meeting at union headquarters and Rushe came down the steps amongst a large group of union members. I told him if he was using any information from the meeting against the union I would deal with him.'' Simmons said he meant Rushe would be dealt with by the BIU's disciplinary committee.

He said that Rushe had paid only 30 weeks of his union dues between July 1991 and July 1992, so technically there was a question over his membership.

He added that journalists were banned from general membership meetings unless the permission of the General President, Mr. Ottiwell Simmons, was given.

On the day of the alleged assault, on July 2, Simmons said he was in a meeting before a general membership meeting. He said union member, Graham Cann told him something which resulted in him going to the general meeting.

Simmons said: "I motioned to Mr. Rushe to come forward, but he ignored me. I stated that I was instructed to ask him to leave the meeting before it started.

"Mr. Rushe said he was not leaving and I told him that the instructions came from the president of the union. He stated that the only way he was going to leave was if I was going to put him out.

"While this was taking place some of the members were shouting `throw the spy out.' This proved to me that they were agitated.

"So I took Mr. Rushe by the arm and escorted him out of the hall. Once in the reception area I told him to go down the steps. Mr. Rushe grabbed the rail at the top of the steps and started shouting: `You are going to push me down the steps. Do not push me down the steps.' "I escorted him down the steps to the entrance and advised him not to attend any more general membership meetings. He then ran as quick as he could down the road.'' Simmons denied kicking Rushe.

Rushe asked Simmons whether the policy of barring journalists from meetings was in the minutes of any meeting. Simmons said it was but could not remember when.

Graham Cann, of Barracks Close, St. George's told the court: "It was a rowdy, unsettled meeting and they were shouting to get rid of Mr. Rushe. I went to get Colin because I did not want to see the gentleman get hurt.'' Rushe asked Cann whether he had heard people calling for him to stay in the meeting. He said he had not.

The case was adjourned until Monday, May 3, while both lawyers prepare written submissions.