The award-winning actor, who is best known for his roles in Trainspotting, Braveheart, and the recent BAFTA-nominated I Swear, said he couldn’t in “good conscience” walk away after he spotted a man “pulling his girlfriend all over the shop,” according to the Scottish Sun.
The 66-year-old said he “sensed something wasn’t right” while walking past the O2 Academy last September when he noticed the woman was upset and crying.
Details of Mullan’s bravery can be revealed since Dylan, 29-year-old Bennett, was jailed for 18 months after admitting two counts of assault at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
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The Peterhead-born actor said that when he went over to confront Bennett over his concern for the female’s safety, the 29-year-old “knocked” his cap off before headbutting him.
However, Mullan told the court that he stood his ground following the attack, which “scared the life out” of Bennett, who then began “whimpering”.
The police arrived shortly after the incident and arrested Bennett.
“I was walking past and saw what was going on,” Mullan said, according to the Scottish Sun.
“He was pulling his girlfriend all over the shop.
“I couldn’t, in all good conscience, walk away from what I was seeing.
“So, I went over to him and said, ‘look, the cops have been called. Why don’t you just walk away?’
“He then knocked the cap off my head.”
Mullan explained he then challenged Bennett to pick his hat back up and hand it back to him.
“That’s when he nutted me,” Mullan continued.
“He got me a cracker but I didn’t go down. That scared the life out of him. I just glared at him and he started whimpering.”
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The court heard how Bennett also brandished a glass bottle at both his partner and Mullan (above) during the incident.
However, Mullan reportedly insisted that he would “do it again if I had to.”
The court also heard how Bennett had been seen clutching a bottle of vodka in the street earlier that morning, with CCTV then showing him sprinting towards the woman.
Procurator fiscal Josh Dowie told the court how Bennett grabbed her with his hands.
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Dowie said: “He was seen to seize her to the neck and violently shook her back and forward and held her for 10 seconds.”
He added: “At this time Mr Mullan was walking by them and noticed the woman to be upset and crying.”
Staff from the O2 Academy eventually held Bennett down on the ground until the police arrived.
Mullan reportedly suffered a head wound during the attack.
Lawyer Tony Callaghan told the court that his client had taken a cocktail of alcohol and drugs at an all-night party, adding: “He went to get more drink and returned to the party.
“An argument developed between himself and his partner but they don’t know what it was about.
“He deeply regrets his involvement in this incident, especially to the innocent bystander.”
Sheriff Iain Fleming jailed Bennett for 18 months.