Man’s jaw broken in taxi rank fracas

Victim needed screws and plates

A fight at a Hamilton taxi rank left a man requiring metal plates and screws in his jaw.

Andrew Murphy admitted punching Daniel O’donnell under provocation at the Keith Street rank on April 17 this year.

Murphy (51) pleaded guilty to a charge assaulting O’donnell to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement at Hamilton Sheriff Court last Friday.

Fiscal depute Michael Mackintosh told the court that an argument broke out between a number of parties at the taxi rank at 10.15pm that night.

During the course of the argument O’donnell approached the accused, who had moved a number of yards from where the altercation had occurred, and punched him.

Murphy in turn responded by punching O’donnell on the face and the complainer stumbled and fell on to the road.

At that point, said the fiscal depute, other parties tried to intervene. Mr Mackintosh told the court: “There was a heated exchange between the accused and the complainer which continued whilst the complainer was on the ground.

“As Mr O’donnell tried to stand up the accused kicked him on the body. At which point other parties became involved.”

This was captured on CCTV, Mr Mackintosh pointed out.

O’donnell was taken to accident and emergency at Wishaw General Hospital where he was found to have two fractures to his jaw – one on each side.

He was transferred to Monklands Hospital where he underwent an operation which involved the insertion of four metal plates and 14 screws.

Mr O’donnell was also told that he would have permanent scarring to his neck.

Murphy’s agent Charles Ferguson told Sheriff Thomas Millar his client deeply regretted his involvement in the incident.

There had been a dispute with the complainer’s son Sean. Murphy, Mr Ferguson explained, had been at the front of the taxi queue and allowed someone who had been involved in a domestic argument further down the queue to take first place.

This, he said, annoyed O’donnell and his father punched Mr Murphy.

Murphy advised the solicitor advocate that O’donnell’s punch had been “quite forceful”.

The accused accepted that he reacted, but considered it to be in self defence.

Working in a takeaway and earning between £300 and £400 per week, Mr Ferguson said Murphy, a qualified chef, was in the position to pay compensation.

Sheriff Millar deferred sentence on Murphy for a social work report and restriction of liberty order assessment until August 26.

He told Murphy: “I have to reports. But it’s not necessarily case that custody will follow.”

Sheriff Millar added that he was prepared to give Murphy the benefit of bail and released him on standard conditions. Sean then get the

It’s not necessarily the case that custody will follow