By Daily Mail (World News) | Created at 2026-06-23 14:10:27 | Updated at 2026-06-24 20:03:27
1 day ago
A British father was arrested after getting in a fight with dozens of men following an argument that was allegedly sparked by transgender women.
Benny Connolly, from Chatham in Kent, had been celebrating his daughter's 17th birthday in Pattaya, Thailand when he began arguing with bar staff in the early hours of Friday.
Shocking video footage shows an enraged Mr Connolly repeatedly punching several men in the street and even batting away blows from a Thai motorcycle rider who was swinging a metal bar at his head.
Mr Connolly's daughter, Summer, 17, said he was defending her from an alleged attack in the bar and the street outside.
She said: 'We were celebrating my birthday with my parents, my auntie and a few friends. But an argument started with transgender women in the bar and one of them pulled my mother's hair.
'I tried to help my mother, but the same woman struck her on the head with a bottle and pushed her to the ground. Then she ran away.
'We all left the bar, but dad was angry. He was still arguing. Then a group of tourists and taxi drivers came over, and he just saw red. The fight blew up.
'My dad punched one of the holidaymakers who put his hand on me. He was defending us.'
Benny Paul Connolly was arrested in Thailand after getting in a fight with dozens of men following an argument that was allegedly sparked by transgender women
Shocking video footage shows an enraged and drunk Mr Connolly repeatedly punching several men in the street
Several local taxi drivers tried to intervene and calm the situation
It took 12 police officers more than 10 minutes to subdue the father. He was then taken to the local station
The father had been celebrating his daughter's (right) 17th birthday in Pattaya, Thailand when they began arguing with bar staff in the early hours of Friday
It took 12 police officers more than 10 minutes to subdue the father. He was then taken to the local station.
A shocked onlooker who recorded the incident said the argument quickly spiraled into physical violence.
He said that several local taxi drivers tried to intervene and calm the situation only to be beaten too.
He added: 'I don't know who initiated the punches, but it escalated quickly.'
Several more taxi drivers and motorcycle riders joined the fracas before the police arrived to calm the situation.
Lieutenant Bawornsak Boonman said: 'Officers found a crowd of Thai and foreign bystanders surrounding a large-built foreigner who appeared intoxicated and was shouting loudly.
'He was surrounded by motorcycle taxi riders, Bolt riders, tuk-tuk drivers, and tourists, who were preventing him from leaving.
'We called in more than 10 additional officers to help control the situation, spending over 10 minutes subduing the suspect before taking him to the police station.
'We charged the British man with public intoxication and detained him in a holding cell to calm down.
'We planned to question all relevant parties in detail once they sobered up, as several individuals were still intoxicated, before considering further legal action based on the evidence.'
