TATUM O'NEAL TRASHES HER FATHER

Ryan O'Neal's daughter Tatum has defended her brother Griffin, saying he did not provoke their father when Ryan allegedly assaulted him at the weekend.Tatum, 43, claims her Oscar-winning father is to blame for the family fracas. She said: "No matter what my dad is saying in the press, Griffin was not trying to start a fight, he was attempting to protect his younger brother Redmond."The 'Paper Moon' actress has a history of feuding with her father and has not spoken to him for years. Ryan's manager Neil Hassman has rubbished her claims, saying: "I would be hesitant to buy into anything Tatum says about her father, or her brothers for that matter."Ryan, 65, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and negligent discharge of a firearm, after police were called to his Malibu home in the early hours of Saturday morning. Ryan, who was later released on bail for $50,000, claimed he only got his gun after Griffin started wildly swinging a fireplace poker. The 'Love Story' actor says he was grazed in the attack but Griffin's pregnant 22-year-old girlfriend was struck in the head. Ryan said: "I ducked and he hit his girlfriend. She's seven months pregnant.I got nervous at that point and fled to my room and got my gun. Griffin came up the stairs so I just fired it into the banister. He fled."Redmond, 21, is Ryan's son with 'Charlie's Angels' actress Farrah Fawcett.

Tatum O'Neal

LOVE STORY RYAN O'NEAL ARRESTED

Ryan O'Neal was arrested for allegedly assaulting his son, Griffin, over the weekend.The 65-year-old Oscar-winning actor was arrested at his Malibu home in the early hours of Saturday morning for assault with a deadly weapon and negligent discharge of a firearm. Los Angeles County sheriff Lieutenant John Benedict said: "Deputies and paramedics were called to O'Neal's Malibu residence at 12.30am Saturday regarding a battery that had occurred."Deputies determined Griffin O'Neal, his son, had been assaulted by his father."Ryan was later released on bail for $50,000.The 'Love Story' star's manager, Neil Hassman, told US TV show The Insider:"He was defending himself after his son began wildly swinging a fireplace poker."It is unfortunate that what should have been an internal family disagreement was escalated to the point that Ryan felt he had to defend himself from Griffin's aggressive, extremely menacing physical behaviour."Hassman said Griffin's pregnant girlfriend suffered minor injuries during the incident, and was treated at a hospital before being released. He claimed her injuries were caused by Griffin, 42. Griffin - who has previous convictions for reckless behaviour under the influence of alcohol - could not be reached for comment. Actress Farrah Fawcett - who dated Ryan between 1980 and 1997 and has a 21-year-old son Redmond with him - celebrated her 60th birthday on Friday. The actress has recently been given the all-clear from anal cancer. She was supported throughout her ordeal by Ryan.