O'Neal blames his son for arrest

Ryan O'Neal was bailed after five hours in detention

Veteran actor Ryan O'Neal and his son, Griffin, are blaming each other for starting a brawl which ended with the Hollywood star being arrested.

The 65-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his son with a deadly weapon and negligent discharge of a firearm on Saturday.

Lawyer Mark Werksman has said the actor is the real "victim".

But Gloria Allred, who represents Griffin O'Neal, said she rejects claims his father was acting in self-defence.

The actor, who found fame in 1960s US soap Peyton Place, said he fired a warning shot into the air when his son attacked him with a poker.

Injury

Griffin O'Neal, 42, was not hurt in the incident although his pregnant partner, Joanna Berry was.

She needed eight stitches over her eye and suffered a broken sinus amongst other injuries, none of which were gun related.

Mr Werksman says the altercation arose out of an argument concerning O'Neal's other son Redmond, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a drug problem.

He told reporters: "Ryan was beaten in his own home by his own son with his own fireplace poker."

Ryan O'Neal and Farah Fawcett had a 15-year relationship

But at a press conference Ms Allred said: "It is important to note that we vigorously reject any assertion that the injuries suffered by Joanna and Griffin were a result of Ryan O'Neal's acting in self-defence."

Griffin is Ryan O'Neal's son from his first marriage, with Joanna Moore. His sister is Tatum O'Neal.

In 1986 he was found guilty of reckless boating after an accident killed Gian-Carlo Coppola, son of legendary film director Francis Ford Coppola.

He also pleaded no contest to a drunken driving charge and was sentenced to probation in 1989.

And in 1992, he pleaded no contest to charges that he shot at his estranged girlfriend's unoccupied car.