Michelle Rocca

Former Miss Ireland Michelle Rocca had the front pages of Irish national newspapers ablaze when she sued a former lover for assault which resulted in her sustaining a broken nose. However It soon became clear that Michelle may have been the author of her own misfortune ! The court heard on the night in question her former lover was  protecting his girlfriend from a frenzied attack by Michelle which resulted in her receiving the injury.

Michelle at the time of the court appearance was dating ageing international rock legend Van 'the man' Morrison. One can only guess at what he thought as the court heard how Michelle had burst into the bedroom of her ex lover, business man Cathal Ryan and dragged his then girlfriend, socialite Sarah Linton from his bed and attempted to give her an unmerciful beating !

The newspapers had a field day as the court case unveiled the wild goings on at a party held by the tycoon at Black Hall Stud in the Irish countryside. It left the wildest TV soap opera's looking tame in comparison.

The court heard how Mr Ryan had brought his girlfriend, gorgeous blonde Sarah Linton to bed only to be interrupted some time later by a furious miss Rocca entering the bedroom. It was claimed Michelle dressed in a revealing cocktail dress dragged her blonde rival from the bed and proceeded to tear, punch and kick the stunned beauty. Cathal Ryan claimed he had no choice but to manhandle miss Rocca in order to save Sarah Linton from a beating at the hands of a wild Michelle Rocca. In doing so she sustained a broken nose. He claimed he used  minimal force as was necessary. It appears Michelle was dishing out a severe beating to her love rival Sarah when Cathal Ryan Intervened !

Apparently one witness called to give evidence was in the wardrobe in the very same room. Bizarrely, he claimed to have been asleep at the time and saw or heard nothing !!!

The court case lasted 6 days in which the plaintiff miss Rocca was seeking damages from Cathal Ryan for the assault. In the end the jury awarded her a paltry £7,500, indicating they agreed with the defence that she had acted like "a female Tarzan" and was the "authoress of her own misfortune."

Our photograph shows Miss Rocca meeting the press after the court case. Behind her is her then boyfriend, rock legend Van "the man" Morrison.