R’S SHEAR CHEEK
AMUM has said she is “thanking God” her children are safe after a terrifying house fire ripped through her home. Kerry-Ann Lemard said it was a miracle the family escaped when she and her two young sons, Ezekiel, seven, and Amen, six, fled a dangerous house fire that ravaged the property.
She had been standing in her kitchen when she started to smell burning.
Kerry-Ann said: “My sons were bickering and fighting with each other, so I told my eldest to go upstairs and do his homework.
“I was standing in the kitchen then I started smelling this burning smoke smell.
“I called my son downstairs to ask if he had been burning paper or something upstairs.
“He said ‘no’ and after that I smelled it coming from the bathroom.”
Kerry-Ann, who had only moved into the new-build property on Drumbeg Drive in Nitshill two years ago, then found the fire in her bathroom storage cupboard, and rushed to try to put it out.
The 39-year-old said: “I got a cup of water and when I got back, I realised that it would do nothing for how big the fire was.
“Loads of black smoke was already starting to go out into the entire house.
“At that point I realised that we all just had to get out to make sure everyone was safe because it was all happening so quickly.”
Scottish Rescue and Fire Service attended the scene at 8.53pm, with three fire engines in attendance.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We were alerted at 8.53pm on Thursday, February 18 to reports of a dwelling fire at Drumbeg Drive, Glasgow.
“Operations Control mobilised three appliances to the scene.
“Firefighters extinguished the fire and left after ensuring the area was made safe. There were no reported casualties.”
The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.
Kerry-Ann said:
God that we are terrifying and it quickly.
“It really felt like it went from zero to 100 in no time and I just had to get the kids out.
“All the material things that were left in the house don’t matter now, it’s just a miracle that we got out.”
The family have since been allowed back into the property, but it has been severely damaged by the fire, with rooms including the kitchen and bathroom completely destroyed.
Kerry Ann, Ezekiel and Amen have moved into her brother’s home until another permanent residence is found.
Kerry Ann has also thanked the local community for their support in the aftermath of the fire.
She said: “The community and neighbours have all been amazing.
“I am thanking all safe, it was all happened so
“When we first made it out of the house, a local woman passing by helped out with the kids. She put them in her car and gave them blankets to keep them warm.”
Locals have even set up a JustGiving page to help support Kerry-Ann and the family get back on their feet in the aftermath of the fire.
The page has so far raised £820 for the family.
She said: “I didn’t even know that somebody had set up the page until I was told by a friend. People have been so kind in offering clothes and food too, even the local shop has offered us food.
“The community couldn’t have supported us more. Even during the coronavirus and when people might not have as much as normal, they were still helping us out.
“There are so many good people in the world and in this area, I want to thank everyone who has helped us out.”
ARACIST who told a hotel manager to “go back to where you belong” has been sent to prison after refusing to give up drinking.
Desmond Bonner spouted racist abuse whilst housed at the Rennie Mackintosh Hotel in Glasgow city centre.
The 49-year-old appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday.
He previously pleaded guilty to acting in a racially aggravated manner on the morning of January 30. He admitted shouting, swearing and uttering racist remarks.
The court heard: “The general manager was working within the reception area at 11am.
“The accused made his way into the lobby from his room. He was under the influence of alcohol at the time. He got into an argument with someone working at the desk.
“He seemed to be feeling suicidal and the staff tried to calm him down, but he made his way round arguing with the reception staff.
“The complainer got involved as the manager to try and assist. The accused starting shouting ‘you’re an Asian p**i b ***** d and ‘go back to where you belong’.
“Police were called, and they arrived and arrested him. He was cautioned and charged.”
Bonner refused to give up alcohol to be considered for a punishment as an alternative to prison.
His solicitor said: “He has a significant record and an alcohol addiction but says he can’t go forward without drinking alcohol.”
The sheriff told Bonner: “In the social work report it states that you said, ‘there is no way I’ll give up drinking alcohol’.
“Taking this into account, along with the seriousness of the offence, I consider prison to be the only appropriate sentence.”
Bonner was jailed for 80 days, which was backdated to the day he was remanded in custody.
AC H A R I T Y dedicated to remembering Nelson Mandela wants planning permission to be renewed for a statue of the former President of South Africa in Glasgow.
The Nelson Mandela Scottish Memorial Foundation is fundraising for a “permanent memorial” on the street named after him.
It would mark “his connection with Glasgow” – the first city in the world to awards its freedom to Mandela in 1981.
He later visited the city in 1993 following his 1990 release from prison.
Permission was previously granted by the city council in 2017 but expired after three years.
The application, which would see a bronze statue built on the footpath outside 8 Nelson Mandela Place, has now been resubmitted.
More than £70,000 has been collected by the charity, whose patrons include Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Sir Billy Connolly and Glasgow’s Lord Provost Philip Braat.
Plans state the statue is to be completed and installed by early next year.
Brian Filling, the charity’s chairman, was the founding chair of the Scottish Committee of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and is the Honorary Consul for South Africa in Scotland.
He submitted the application to the city council.
“Nelson Mandela
Place is the ideal site for the proposed location politically, historically and functionally,” the plans state.
“The Place has a long association with the struggle against Apartheid and Nelson Mandela, while its prominent location could activate this underused part of the city.”
The Anti-Apartheid Movement gathered in the street on the night of his releases while there was also a public gathering following his death in 2013.
St George’s
Place was named after Mandela in 1986 and, in 1988, around 30,000 people gathered in Glasgow Green for an anti-apartheid rally. The application adds: “It would provide an ideal space for both reflection and celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela and his relationship with the city.” An open competition would be held to select a sculptor, with a panel of experts, including artists and anti-apartheid campaigners, making the choice.
Last February, the charity launched a fundraising push for the final £30,000 needed to build the statue.
At the time, Sir Alex Ferguson, who met Mandela on three occasions, said: “Nelson Mandela was special. An example for the world to follow.
“For decades the ordinary people of Glasgow have played a terrific role in the anti-apartheid movement and as a Freeman of this great city I am proud to play my part in this campaign to honour a very special man.”
It would provide an ideal space for both reflection and celebration