Lockdown party officer ‘battered by cop fiancée’ Court told pair clashed over his music after a bash at her sister’s

A POLICE officer was left bloodied after being attacked by his cop fiancee after a lockdown-breaking party, a court has heard.

Constable Gordon Dunn, 33, said he was assaulted by Lara McAulay, 31.

McAulay, understood to have been working as a Temporary Sergeant at the time, went on trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday.

She denies a domestic assault charge, claiming she lashed out in selfdefence at the home they shared in Rutherglen, near Glasgow, on January 30.

Dunn, who has been an officer for five years, was the first witness.

The court heard he had to give evidence via video link as his evidence could be “hampered” if he had to give it in person.

He said he and McAulay had gone to her sister’s home for a celebration and were drinking.

He told the court said: “We were in good spirits. I was a happy man at that point. I was getting married to the girl I loved.”

But he said things turned sour once he and McAulay returned home after sharing a bottle of wine.

He said he listened to music and exchanged words with McAulay and her mum as he headed to bed.

Dunn said: “I said, ‘What’s the problem here?’ I think I said to her mum, ‘I don’t even think you like me anyway.’

“That’s when Lara punched me twice in my left eye. I was dazed, I couldn’t believe what had happened. I remember touching my nose and there was blood coming out of it.”

He was shown pictures of his injuries and said it showed swelling and bruising. Prosecutors claim she repeatedly punched him on the head and struggled violently with him, leaving him injured.

At the time, Scotland was subject to lockdown restrictions.

CCTV footage was played in court, and Dunn could be heard singing, “f*** you Celtic, we’re gonnae win the league”. But he refused to answer when McAulay’s lawyer, Callum Anderson, asked if he had also sung “f*** the Pope and the IRA”. The court was also shown a video which showed the Rangers fan mentioning “55” and saying “is that so you can sing Celtic songs in front of me? It’s Celtic this and Celtic that. Celtic, Celtic, Celtic,” when McAulay asked him to turn his music down.

He conceded his behaviour that night was not “an appropriate way for a serving police officer to conduct himself off duty”.

He denied having to change his story after being shown the footage. He denied claims he had invaded her mum’s personal space and was struck by McAulay as they feared he would attack her.

McAulay denies the charge and the trial before Sheriff Allan Findlay was adjourned until next month.