Duo squared up after boozy baby shower

A boozy catfight sparked a massive punch-up in a pub involving a large number of drinkers, a court was told.

Donna Kerr, 35, and Linda McKillop, also 35, had been out drinking at a baby shower with pals when trouble flared at the Western Bar in Renfrew.

The duo squared up and clashed after accusations had been exchanged causing a large scale disturbance to break out in the Hairst Street hostelry.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard tables and chairs WERE thrown around during the melee which erupted around 6pm on Sunday, July 31, 2016.

Fiscal depute Megan Clancy said: “It was at around 5.45pm and both accused were in the pub. Both had been at a baby shower earlier that day and both were under the influence of alcohol.

“At around 5.50pm an argument began and a number of other people became involved.

“The accused Linda McKillop lifted a chair and raised it over her head. This was the trigger for the disturbance starting.

“Within a few moments a large scale disturbance took place within the locus where a number of people became involved.”

The court heard several drinkers attempted to intervene but the rammy spread with staff forced to call police to help restore order.

The fiscal added: “Police who attended could see signs of the disturbance. Tables and chairs had been knocked over at the pub.

“Officers recovered CCTV footage of the disturbance.”

Yesterday Kerr, of Charles Avenue, Renfrew, and McKillop, of Shortroods Road, Paisley, pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm to others in that they engaged in a stand-up fight at the Western Bar.

Defence agent Eamon McGeehan, representing Kerr, said: “There was a discussion about something that had happened years ago.

“There was a suggestion my client had been involved in a confrontation where she had tried to stab one of the friends of her co-accused.

“My client denied this and there was a threat to stab her from someone in the pub. The coaccused approached her and raised the chair and Ms Kerr reacted to that.”

Rhona Lynch, representing Ms McKillop, said: “Alcohol had been taken but my client disputes there was any discussion about anybody being stabbed.

“There was a disagreement. She took exception to that. In her intoxicated state her judgment was clouded and she behaved in a wholly irresponsible and unacceptable fashion.

“She wants to apologise for her conduct.”

Sheriff Frances McCartney slammed both the women for their drunken behaviour.

She said: “Is it ent i rely appropriate to be drinking at such an occasion? You were celebrating a new baby coming into the world involving one of your friends.”

She fined Ms Kerr £350, reduced from £400 to take into account her plea of guilty.

Ms McKillop was handed 60 hours of unpaid work, reduced from 70, to reflect her admission of guilt.

She added: “Make sure this is the last time you come before the court as accused persons.”