Morar man found not guilty of assault in Mallaig bar brawl

A BUSINESS owner who denied assaulting a woman in a bar brawl in Mallaig was described to be in ‘fight or flight’ mode at the time.

George Pendreigh, 57, from Morar, was accused of grabbing the woman by the feet, pulling her to the floor and seizing her by the body at the Marine Hotel on November 15, 2015.

Fort William Justice of Peace Court heard last Wednesday (March 22) that the victim, who was then employed at the hotel, was not on the rota to work that night but had ended up helping a colleague serve behind the bar which was busier than usual because of a new boat being in the nearby harbour.

She told the court that at around closing time an incident had taken place in the bar and she was tending to a casualty. She then noticed a second fight take place involving Mr Pendreigh which she tried to diffuse with some success.

Immediately after she tapped a facedown Pendreigh on the back and told him to go home and he sprung up and assaulted her.

She recalled: ‘I said to him don’t hit me, I’m a woman.’

Justices of the Peace Alastair Gibson, Steve Pimborough and Maureen Anderson were told the assault on Pendreigh caused him to lose his glasses and hearing aid, and had left him with a cut to the back of his head which later required six or seven stitches.

Defence solicitor Hamish Melrose put it to the court Pendreigh had not recognised the woman, his actions were not a personal attack on her and did not constitute assault.

He added: ‘The term fight or flight has been used by the witnesses. What Pendreigh did to [the woman] was a reaction. He reacted by grabbing the legs nearest to him. There is nothing to suggest Pendreigh did this intentionally. That is not to say it didn’t happen but no intent, no mens rea, no assault.’

The JPs accepted Mr Melrose’s suggestion and found Pendreigh not guilty.