Roofing contractors fined for Islay trouble

Two roofing contractors from Coatbridge, who had been working on Islay, appeared before Campbeltown Sheriff Court last week and left with nearly £2,000 fines between them.

Kieran Creaney, aged 34, of 22 Merrystown Drive, admitted being unfit to drive through drink or drugs; failing to provide a blood sample at Bowmore Police Station and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and uttering threats.

His workmate Jordan Ready, aged 29, of 31 Sandpiper Crescent, pleaded guilty to having an offensive weapon, namely a bottle.

The offences took place over the night of November 1 and 2 last year, outside Distillery Cottages, Caol Ila, Islay.

Procurator fiscal depute James Dunbar said witnesses heard a noise, went outside to investigate and saw Creaney getting out of a van.

‘They saw him staggering and slurring his words and told him he should not be driving because he was drunk.’

At this, Ready, who was holding an empty bottle of Buckfast, approached one witness. ‘He was holding the bottle by the neck with his arm out in front of him and pointing the bottle at the witness and told him to get back into his house.’

The police were called and the men were taken to the police office at Bowmore where Creaney refused to take the breath test and Ready admitted brandishing the bottle.

Creaney also told one of the witnesses: ‘I will **** ing see you.’

Creaney’s defence agent, Robert Sheridan, told the court that the roofing contractor had been working on Islay and, at the time, he was concerned about his father’s ill health and trying to phone home.

‘He moved his vehicle a short distance to try and get a better mobile signal. It is a decision he deeply regrets now. He is mortified by what he said, something very much out of character. He accepts full responsibility for his actions; he has let himself down completely and he deeply apologises to the residents.’

Ready’s defence agent, Stephen MacSporran, echoed this, saying: ‘He accepts full responsibility and is sorry for his actions. There had been drink taken.’

Creaney was fined a total of £1,200 and disqualified from driving for 12 months, which can be reduced to nine months if he completes a drink driving rehabilitation course successfully at his own expense. Ready was fined £750.