Three Irish men will appear in the Queenstown District Court this afternoon facing violence, assault and disorderly behaviour charges, stemming from an incident in Queenstown early yesterday in which a pool cue was used in an assault.
Sergeant Tracy Haggart, of Queenstown, said the three men, all aged 25, had been living in Christchurch.
At 1.45am police were called to the Buffalo Club after one of the alleged offenders attempted to assault a man inside the bar with a pool cue.
''He's gone to hit the victim with it, but an associate was in front of the victim,'' Sgt Haggart said.
''He's ended up hitting his [the victim's] associate and a piece of the pool cue has flung into the face of an innocent person at the bar.
''He's got a deep cut under his left eye. He's very lucky.''
The primary offender had been charged with assault with a weapon - a pool cue - and assaulting police.
One of his associates had been charged with assault and the other with assault and disorderly behaviour.
All three will appear in the registrar's list this afternoon.
• Police are continuing inquiries after an apparent unprovoked attack in the resort early on Saturday.
A 21-year-old man was set on by an unknown man in Shotover St at 3.30am on Saturday, Sgt Haggart said.
''The information we have is a van has pulled up on Shotover St and one of the passengers got out and dealt to the male victim.
''It seems like an unprovoked attack.''
The victim was knocked unconscious as a result of the incident and was treated at Lakes District Hospital for concussion, Sgt Haggart said.
He also sustained a broken nose and a laceration to the bridge of his nose.
After the incident the alleged offender got back into the van, believed to be carrying between seven and 11 other passengers, which then travelled towards Wanaka.
