Sectarian outburst in A&E

A foul-mouthed Plains bigot has been tagged following a disgraceful late- night outburst in University Hospital Monklands.

James Lafferty, 37, behaved in a threatening and abusive manner at the facility last September.

The Kintyre Crescent resident wound up in the A&E department after police received several worrying calls from members of the public with regards to the accused’s welfare.

But upon arrival, the lout began shouting obscene slurs such as “f*** the Proddies”and “up the f****** RA”.

The procurator fiscal explained: “Police attended the initial locus at around 11.40pm after receiving several calls about a man’s welfare.

“When they arrived they observed him to be heavily intoxicated.

“He was taken to University Hospital Monklands and started becoming aggressive to officers.

“He shouted ‘get it up the f****** Provos’, ‘Sinn Fein you f******’, and warned officers ‘I’m in the IRA’.

“This behaviour continued as police made attempts to calm him down and more shouts were made, including ‘f*** off you big Catholic rat’ and ‘up the f****** RA’.

“The accused was not cautioned and charged at the time due to his intoxicated state.”

Lafferty, who pleaded guilty to his shocking actions, was represented by solicitor Paul Belardo, who said: “He remembers nothing at all from this incident.

“He was brought up in a Catholic household but that doesn’t excuse his actions.

“He knows behaviour like that is unacceptable anywhere, let alone in a hospital.

“He recognised he is sailing very close to the wind with regards to a custodial sentence but he has had a drink problem for a while and my submission is that he needs some stability.

“A restriction of liberty order with supervision would help him address his problems.”

Sheriff Petra Collins said: “I can deal with this today by way of an alternative to custody.

“I will impose a community payback order with two requirements, the first being a restriction of liberty order.

“You will remain in your home between the hours of 7pm and 7am every night for the next three months.

“Secondly, you will be under supervision for 12 months and you must engage with addiction services during this time.”

Chainsaw threat

A Plains man has been placed under supervision after he terrified his now ex-partner with verbal slurs.

Bellas Place resident John O’Brien, 53, pleaded guilty to placing the woman in a state of fear and alarm at his home on January 10.

He also admitted leaving a menacing six- minute long voicemail on her phone during which he threatened to “cut her with a chainsaw”.

The procurator fiscal explained: “The complainer left work and went to his address to try and sort things out.

“The accused invited her inside and she declined, saying she ‘didn’t want to’.

“This angered the accused and he started to speak aggressively, calling her ‘nothing but a s*** and a w****’.

“She started to walk away and he began shouting after her, labelling her a ‘money grabber’.

“She drove straight to Airdrie police office to report the accused.”

However, that wasn’t the end of O’Brien’s misdemeanours.

The fiscal continued: “At 11pm, the complainer returned home and charged her phone which had run out of battery during the day.

“She had a voicemail message from the accused which was left at 8.15pm.

“She contacted police who arrived and listened to the message, which lasted six minutes.

“The accused had made threats in the message such as ‘I’m going to cut you with a chainsaw’ and ‘I’ve got an AK-47 and I’m going to blow you up with it’.

“He also repeatedly called her a ‘s*** and a w****’.”

O’Brien’s defence solicitor Colin Dunipace said: “What he has said to her is extremely unpleasant.

“The relationship was coming to an end and there were monetary difficulties which had led to a drink problem.

“His financial position is somewhat limited as he is currently on benefits.

“I think he needs a period of sustained supervision.”

Sheriff Petra Collins ruled: “I’ll treat you as a first offender and give you 12 months of supervision during which you must accept any help given to you for your alcohol problem.”

Breached order

A thug who assaulted three men on a train near Drumgelloch station has admitted breaching his community payback order.

However, Christopher Beck, 38, received no further punishment after a sheriff ruled the Galashiels man has “turned his life around”.

Beck, along with an accomplice, violently attacked three men during a train journey from Glasgow to Edinburgh in March 2016.

He was also found with cannabis after a struggle with officers at Drumgelloch station.

Beck had initially failed to engage fully with his order, the details of which weren’t disclosed in court.

But Sheriff Petra Collins said she was satisfied the accused has turned a corner and didn’t need to be punished for the breach of his order.

She said: “You’ve completed your work and I’ll make no further order.”

He shouted ‘up the f****** Provos’, Sinn Fein you f******’, and warned officers, ‘I’m in the IRA’