LINDA RECALLS HORROR ATTACK THAT LEFT HER SCARRED FOR LIFE DAUGHTER GLASSED ME AFTER I LAID MY MUM TO REST
A woman who was glassed by her daughter at her mum’s funeral has spoken out about being left “physically and emotionally” scarred by the ordeal.
Devastated Linda Smith said she felt like she lost two family members on the same day following the fallout with Kerry Coyle, 30, last year.
The 53-year-old was left with a black eye and cuts on her face after nursery boss Coyle tossed the glass at her after her mother’s funeral.
Mum-of-two Coyle was handed an absolute discharge by Sheriff Colin Pettigrew on Thursday after the case was heard at Paisley Sheriff Court - meaning she will have no criminal record.
She had previously admitted to
4 CASTLE TERRACE, BRIDGE OF WEIR, PA11 3EF
a charge of assault to injury and permanent disfigurement.
But Linda - who works for the NHS - believes there has been no justice for what happened to her.
Speaking to the Express, she said: “I will never forget this for the rest of my life.
“I lost my daughter the same day I laid my mother to rest.
“I did not want her to go to jail as, at the end of the day, she is still my daughter.
“And I also hav e grandchildren that need their mum.
“But I am the one who has to live with what happened.
“My whole face was covered in blood when she hit me.
“I have been left physically and emotionally scarred by this and I feel like she has got away Scot-free.”
The rare sentencing was given to help save the career of Coyle, who is an assistant manager at Glencoats Nursery in Paisley’s Ferguslie Park area.
She had feared she would be reported to education watchdogs the Scottish Social Services Council ( SSSC) and have her Protection of Vulnerable Groups ( PVG) clearance stripped from her.
The court heard there was a history of bad blood between the daughter and mum which erupted at the family funeral in February.
Defence agent Sabrina Baig told how Coyle has lost her temper following a number of cruel jibes from her mum - including claims she had an STD - and threw a glass tumbler at her.
Grandmother Linda, from Renfrew, has admitted the pair have a difficult relationship but has strongly disputed how she has been portrayed by her estranged daughter.
She added: “She has said these things about me and I have not been given any chance to defend myself.
“She has made me out to be a bad mother.
“We do not have a good relationship but I did not say the things she said I did.
“I never thought I would speak about my daughter like this.
“But I cannot sit and let these things be said about me and not speak out.
“I don’t deserve this.”