Lossiemouth brawl started after ‘dead daughter comment’ leaves man with severe injuries, including fractured leg

Pub banter turned violent when a customer who was said to have taunted a man about his dead daughter was assaulted and ended up with a fractured leg.

Alan Galbraith, of Spynie Place in Lossiemouth, left complainer Scott Anderson in hospital with facial injuries and a fractured right leg after the incident at the Brander Arms on April 28, 2024.

Mr Anderson, who denied making the comments, “was found by his wife with facial injuries and unable to walk” after the assault, Inverness Sheriff Court was told.

Mr Anderson encountered Galbraith in the pub after a night drinking with his in-laws in Lossiemouth.

Galbraith was part of a group of men that came into the bar, and Mr Anderson regarded them as being boisterous.

Fiscal depute Alison Young told Sheriff Gary Aitken: "Other witnesses felt Anderson was being a general nuisance and annoying people by butting into conversations, appearing very opinionated and looking for a fight.

"A witness behind the bar became aware of the complainer (Anderson) and another man having a verbal altercation and they were asked to calm down and sit apart from each other."

Mrs Young said that accounts of what happened next were varied but 39-year-old Galbraith, who was one of the group, came out of the toilet and told Mr Anderson that they were all just trying to have banter.

But the complainer was not impressed about Galbraith's involvement.

The men all went outside, Mrs Young went on. She added: "The barmaid went outside to make sure everything was OK, at which point she heard the accused (Galbraith) shouting at the complainer.

“She told the complainer to calm down and others tried to calm down the accused."

The pair then re-entered the bar, Mr Anderson finished his pint and left, only to be followed by Galbraith.

Mrs Young added: "Around 10 to 15 minutes later, the accused re-entered the pub and made the comment: 'I'm sorry. I had to hit him.'

“He indicated that a comment had been made about his dead daughter.

“A taxi was called to pick up the complainer (Anderson) and he was taken home.

“He was found in the bathroom by his wife with facial injuries and unable to walk."

The Sheriff heard that Anderson was taken to hospital where he was treated for cuts, bruises and a fractured right leg.

He had to use crutches for several months but is expected to fully recover.

Galbraith pleaded guilty to assaulting Anderson under provocation to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

His solicitor, David Patterson asked for a background report and told the court: "It is his position that he denied making comments to the complainer and swore on his daughter's grave he was not lying.

“The complainer replied: 'Go f**k your dead daughter.' "

Galbraith will return to be sentenced on March 25.