Former Gretna footballer admits involvement in Beltane bust-up
Ally McGilvray • Published 17 Feb 2012 00:01
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A FORMER professional footballer has admitted attacking a man during a pub crawl in Peebles.
Twenty-one-year-old forward Gary McCormack, who played for former Scottish Premier League side Gretna before the club went into administration, struggled with John Munro at the town's Co-op on June 25.
He was charged with repeatedly striking a door there and forcing his way into the Old Town store and engaging him in a fight.
The Justice of the Peace Court in Peebles this week heard McCormack - who once appeared on the bench for Gretna in a game against Hearts - had decided to visit the town with friends to go on a pub crawl during the town's Beltane celebrations when trouble broke out.
Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, said: "One member of staff was sufficiently alarmed to push the in-store panic button which alerted police."
McCormack, who now plays for junior side Bonnyrigg Rose, also admitted throwing a traffic cone at the window of the Co-op during the drama - causing £500 worth of damage.
His solicitor Jim Grant claimed his client had been provoked. He claimed McCormack had been separated from his friends when Munro asked him: "What the f*** are you looking at - do you know who I am?" And, it was Munro, he claimed, threw the first punch.
Mr Grant said: "He (McCormack) was incensed at what had been said to him and the red mist came down. He had been having a great day up until that point." But he added: "He accepts he over-reacted."
McCormack, from Lasswade, originally denied the offence but admitted a reduced charge of breach of the peace when he appeared in court today (Thursday, February 16).
Justice of the Peace Bryan Brockie admonished McCormack but ordered him to pay the Co-op £500 compensation.
Passing sentence he said: "The shopkeepers in Peebles have a great deal of difficulty getting insurance for their property. They can claim once or twice but after that they can't get insurance."
Meanwhile, McCormack's co-accused James Clark, of Edinburgh, denied any involvement in the attack and his not guilty plea was accepted by the court.
For full and exclusive coverage of the Justice of the Peace Court in Peebles, pick up a copy of this week's Peeblesshire News.
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 16 Feb 12
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