Fists fly as violence erupts at charity bash

Apr 6 2011 Paisley Daily Express

A CHARITY event at a busy pub descended into violence when a fight between two women sparked a mass brawl.

Caring fundraisers had gone along to the charity bash to coin in money for victims of heart disease but things turned ugly and a man ended up being badly battered.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard that Kevin McBrearty, 23, and John Duffy, 29, decided to support the fundraising event after a friend’s dad had died of a heart attack.

However, they ended up involved in a full-scale melee after a ‘cat fight’ in the street between two women lured them outside.

Within seconds, punches were being traded and a crowd turned on Mark Gillespie, who was attacked by several people.

The rumpus, which took place in Hazel Avenue, Johnstone, was captured by CCTV cameras, which had already filmed the initial confrontation between the two women – one of whom was McBrearty’s girlfriend.

Police were alerted and, when officers arrived at the scene, both McBrearty and Duffy were arrested.

When the pair appeared in the dock at court, they admitted assaulting Mr Gillespie on July 11 last year by repeatedly punching him on the head.

Depute fiscal John Millar told the court that all of those involved in the mass brawl had attended the charity bash but violence erupted just after midnight.

Both McBrearty, of Fulton Crescent, Kilbarchan, and Duffy, of Rankine Place, Johnstone, got involved when the fight between the two women started to get out of hand.

Defence agent Chris McKenna claimed that McBrearty lashed out after Mr Gillespie had been verbally abusive.

The lawyer stressed that McBrearty “was not a man of violence”.

It was also stated that McBrearty’s girlfriend was Duffy’s sister-in-law and that Duffy was a first offender.

Sheriff James Spy fined McBrearty and Duffy £300 each.