This is one of Conor McGregor’s former top Irish security personnel - who has been jailed for a “very serious and prolonged assault” on a man which left his victim unable to work for six months.
Security business owner Gezim Idrzi, 37, was sentenced last month to three years and three months for the assault which happened seven years ago in 2016.
Idrzi, who is listed as Managing Director of GZ Professional Security Ltd in Ballycollin in Dublin, was found guilty by a jury in Dublin Circuit Court in February of assault causing harm. He was acquitted of one count of false imprisonment of the man at GZ Security at Rosemount Business Park in Ballycoolin.
READ MORE: Inside Joe Biden’s ring of steel for Irish visit with secret service, the Beast and Air Force One
The Albanian national, who has an address at Luttrellstown Heights, Castleknock in Dublin, had denied all wrongdoing and denied assaulting the man at his business premises on February 1, 2016.
Idrzi, moved to Ireland when he was 15 and became a successful businessman, the court heard.
And sources told this paper Idrizi’s security firm had worked with McGregor for a number of years. We exclusively revealed in 2018 that Idrzi worked as McGregor's body guard and was facing trial for the assault.
Idrzi has been pictured working as McGregor's bodyguard on numerous occasions including at the MMA star’s red carpet premiere of his documentary movie ‘Notorious’ at Dublin’s The Savoy cinema in November 2017.
Idriz also provided security for the MMA fighter when he appeared before Dublin District Court in 2018 for non production of an insurance certificate and his licence. Those summons were struck out after McGregor produced his documents in court.
Idrzi was also photographed as the MMA fighter’s bodyguard while McGregor and his fiancee Dee Devlin attended the Longitude music festival in Dublin 2019.
During Idrzi’s trial at Dublin Circuit Court the jury heard that the injured party had gone to the business premises on the day in question with the hope of selling a payment system to Idrzi.
Both men were known to each other and had done business in the past. Idrzi met the man, but he did not wish to go ahead with the business offer. The injured man left and went to his next appointment.
Garda Stuart Gleeson told Eoghan Cole, BL, prosecuting, that the man received a call later that day from Idrzi and asked him to return to the business premises under the promise of doing business. The injured man returned, arriving at the premises at 2pm and went into a ground-floor office with Idrzi.
The court heard that another man came into the office, and Idrzi accused the man of defrauding him in the past. The man was then punched in the face by the accused; he was in shock and continued to be hit with a closed fist many more times. His hands were held behind his back by the second man.
Gda Gleeson said that the injured man was bound with tape, placed on a chair and had a towel put over his head. The injured man was in and out of consciousness and believed that a third man also came into the office during this time.
When the towel was removed, Idrzi asked him if he was ok to drive and told him “not to contact the gardaí or he would be killed”.
The injured man left and drove home and contacted gardaí, who came to his home. The gardaí took a statement and called an ambulance, and the injured man was brought to the hospital.
A medical report was handed into the court, which outlined that the man had sustained facial fractures, a laceration to his lip and pain and bruising to the face and chest. He was kept in hospital overnight for observations.
The court heard that a search warrant was issued, and gardai searched the GZ Security premises, where blood stains were found on the floor of the office. The accused was also present in the office and was arrested and brought for interview. Idrzi denied all wrongdoing and assaulting the man.
Judge Ryan said “this has to result in a custodial sentence due to the seriousness of the assault”.
The injured man said he had to pay €200 for medical bills and lost €4,000 as he was off work for six months.
He said when he went back to work, “I was afraid that the same thing would happen and that I would be beaten”. He also said he “felt useless and embarrassed because he was beaten up”.
Ciaran O’Loughlin, SC, defending, handed in character references from a solicitor who has known Idrzi for over 20 years and described him as “a man with an incredible work ethic and is an excellent employer”.
Counsel said his client is a family man and is willing to offer compensation to the injured party.
READ NEXT:
- Gardaí hunting predators in the Defence Forces after uncovering 26 sexual assault allegations
- Tributes paid after Mayo GAA star's 'heartbreaking' loss of 10 month old baby
- Gardaí to go door-to-door after woman found dead in house in Castleknock in Dublin
- Galway bar manager 'breaks world record' after visiting 85 pubs in 24 hours
- Irish Mirror readers have their say on who should get RTE Late Late host job - and it was tight
For the latest crime stories, click here
