Cop is ‘too busy’ with Brexit to go to court
A court case had to be adjourned as a police officer was too busy “dealing with Brexit” to give evidence.
The officer was due to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court to give evidence in the trial of Declan McFadyen, 22.
McFadyen, of Paisley, is accused of attacking two other men and behaving in a threatening or abusive way in his home town.
But his trial had to be adjourned until later in the year because the police officer had not been cited.
And when asked by the judge what had happened, the prosecutor said he had been assigned to unspecified duties involving the UK’s exit from the EU.
Procurator Fiscal Depute Maureen McGovern told Sheriff Colin Pettigrew the officer was not available to give evidence as he was outwith the region on ‘Brexit duties’.
Sheriff Pettigrew replied: “I’m not sure how ‘ Brexit duties’ trump the court.”
Miss McGovern said: “I think the issue with the Brexit office is that they are not sure if he has received his citation yet.”
Sheriff Pettigrew then adjourned the case until later this year and released McFadyen on bail.
McFadyen denies bottling Robert Milne at a flat in South Campbell Street, Paisley, on August 24 last year.
Prosecutors claim he struck Mr Milne over the head with a glass bottle, causing him to fall to the ground, before raining blows on his head, leaving him injured.
He is also said to have attacked Ross Docherty on the same occasion, by striking him on the head, causing him to fall to the ground, and then raining blows on his head and body.
He also denied behaving in a threatening or abusive way, which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm, by shouting, swearing and repeatedly threatening Mr Milne with violence.
McFadyen, of McKerrell Street, Paisley, is expected to return to court later this year.
I’m not sure how Brexit duties trump the court Sheriff Colin Pettigrew