A doorman attacked with a knife and machete by a clubber said today (Wednesday) he gets no pleasure from seeing the man start a life sentence for the crime.

Michael Herlihy, 34, was working on the door of the Terrace Nightclub in August when he was knifed four times by Nathan Motherwell, who had been turned away earlier in the evening before returning with the weapons.

But the 6ft 7ins father-of-one said he pitied Motherwell and got no pleasure from seeing a young man receiving such a sentence despite being stabbed in the leg, arms and chest.

"I was not surprised because I know how the law works on these sort of things.

"I am not pleased because it is a tragic end to what could have passed off as a very peaceful incident. I had never met him before and had no problem with him," he said.

Mr Herlihy, of Providence Place, Colchester, has worked on the doors for 11 years and five years ago began to branch out with his own business, Keep Guard Security.

"You know the dangers you face doing a job like this but it is what I do.

"I have worked in many different places, including clubs in Australia and Tenerife and I had never seen anything like that before.

"Knives are creeping more and more into clubs in this country and it is something you have to be aware of. I am hoping to start a course in the New Year about conflict management and how to deal with things like that," he said.

Mr Herlihy also praised his fellow bouncers who were with him on the night of the incident.

"The three men, Adrian Collier, Paul Beaumont and Curtis Williams all did me proud and I think they all deserved the praise the judge gave them.

"Doormen get a bad press. During the case it was made to look like I was a thug who always tried to act the big man but that is not true and I think that has been shown.

"It has been a terrible year, I have been stabbed, robbed and burgled and now I just want to get on with trying to raise the reputation of doormen in the area," said Mr Herlihy.

But he admits his attitudes may have changed a bit since the birth of his baby daughter, Imogen, in February.

"My wife Julie has tried to get me to give up but it is what I do. I have a business now and I employ people who rely on me."

"I am glad this is all over for Christmas and the New Year so I can get on with my life with my family but I am not pleased a man is going to spend a long time in jail. I get no pleasure from that," he added.

Stabbing victim: doorman Michael Herlihy

By Lauren Spurgeon

Reporter's e-mail: lauren_spurgeon@thisisessex.co.uk

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