Boozed-up cousins lost the plot in pub after family funeral
Drunk yobs lashed out after they were refused alcohol
Two drunk mourners sparked terror at a Paisley pub by making threats, hurling a stool at the gantry and assaulting a customer drinking at the bar.
Cousins Barry, 39, and Paul Wallace, 37, staggered into Buddies Bar in the town’s Broomlands Street after spending the day drinking following the funeral of a family member.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard the pair were heavily intoxicated when they spilled drink at the bar and were refused further service by the pub staff.
Procurator Fiscal Depute Sarah Healing to the court: “The accused are cousins. On the day in question they were out in the Paisley area consuming alcohol following a family funeral.
“At 10pm they walked into Buddies Bar. Two women aged were working behind the bar.
“At 10.45pm both accused were informed by one of the women that they would not be served any more alcohol as they were both heavily intoxicated.
“Both accused became abusive and aggressive towards the female bar workers.
“They made comments such as ‘Ginger specky b*****,’ and ‘Disrespectful cow.’
“Thereafter Barry Wallace said, ‘ You are marked,’ and ‘I will come behind the bar and take your head off.’”
The court heard the two bar workers had been frightened by the threats.
At one point both accused tried to get behind the bar, but were blocked by one of the female bar staff who contacted the police.
The fiscal added: “While she was doing this Paul Wallace picked up a bar stool and threw it at the gantry behind the bar.
“Fortunately property was not damaged.
“Barry Wallace approached a customer sitting at the bar and pushed him onto the ground.”
Both accused left the bar and headed to the Tartan Rose pub nearby where police soon traced them.
At which point Barry Wallace punched a police officer in the face causing the officer to fall to the ground.
Yesterday, Barry Wallace of Spateston Road, Johnstone, and Paul Wallace of Brediland Road, Linwood, both pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner in that they repeatedly shouted, swore, uttered threats of violence, attempted to access behind the bar and threw a bar stool at the gantry on May 21.
Barry Wallace also admitted assaulting a police officer by punching him, assaulting a pub customer by pushing him on the body causing him to fall from his stool, and to a further assault on a police support worker by attempting to kick him, while in custody.
His defence agent Nadine Dormer said: “The family member was his mother. He is an only child.
“He had been drinking from early in the afternoon.
“The funeral had concluded and events took place after 10pm, after an eight-hour drinking session. “Drinks had been knocked over. “This is what caused the upset. “It was the day he buried his mother. Clearly he had too much to drink. Clearly this powered his actions.”
Defence solicitor David Nicholson, representing Paul Wallace, added: “Paul Wallace didn’t make any attempt to get behind the bar.
“He is responsible for throwing the stool at the gantry area of the bar. Fortunately it did not cause any injury.”
The lawyer added it was an “emotional time” for both cousins “which clearly got out of hand.”
Sheriff David Pender said: “Barry Wallace, as far as you are concerned, you have a previous conviction for police assault.
“And the mitigation that it was your mother’s funeral, you would be expected to behave more respectfully in the circumstances.” He jailed him for nine months. He placed Paul Wallace on an electronic tag for six months requiring him to remain indoors between 7pm and 7am.