Sheriff blasts lout for threatening sisters

An abusive yob threatened to rob two sisters and have their house “done”, a court was told.

Drug addict Melanie Feehan, 40, made frightening threats against Diane and Carolanne McPhilemy at their home in Ferguslie Walk, in the town’s Ferguslie Park district.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard Feehan, accompanied by a man who cannot be identified for legal reasons, went to the door last August as part of a simmering feud with their neighbours.

Fiscal depute Masooma Jaffri said: “Diane and Carolanne McPhilemy were in the house when they heard both a male’s and female’s voice at their front door.

“They recognised the female voice to be that of the accused. The accused shouted, ‘Gies your money. Gies your drugs. Your house is getting done.’

“The occupants contacted police, who traced the accused at her own address. She was cautioned and charged, but made no reply to officers.”

Yesterday, shame-faced Feehan appeared in the dock, where she pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm, uttering threats, and committing the offence while out on bail.

Defence agent Julie Killian said the incident stemmed from a dispute involving Feehan’s dogs, which the sisters had reported to the council.

She said: “There was an ongoing issue in relation to her animals.

“There had been complaints to the council about her dogs.

“It was said there had been difficulties in her keeping the dogs under control.”

The lawyer added the accused, who has battled a long-term drug addiction, had pleaded guilty to the charges and expressed remorse over her involvement.

She added: “She accepts it is not an appropriate way to deal with a neighbourhood dispute.”

Feehan has since moved away from Ferguslie Park and is now living at her father James’ house in the town’s Galloway Drive.

However, Sheriff Seith Ireland took a dim view of her conduct.

He said: “This was a serious threat — to have someone’s house ‘done.’

“I will impose a fine to reflect the seriousness of the offence and the fact it was committed while you were on bail.”

He fined her £360, reduced from £400 because of her guilty plea.

The accused shouted, ‘Gies your money. Gies your drugs. Your house is getting done’