Family gathering ends in violence

Nov 19 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A DISTURBANCE at a family gathering in West Lothian had to be contained by police using CS spray.

James Hyndman and Steven O’Rourke were at the event at Beechwood Road, Blackburn along with other family members on January 18 this year.

An argument broke out between Hyndman and O’Rourke and another man.

Other people at the house managed to separate the arguing parties before O’Rourke assaulted a female by striking her on the face.

The police were called and both men left the house.

They arrived at around 8pm and were talking to witnesses in the house when Hyndman returned to the property with a baseball bat, a sheriff court was told this week.

Fiscal depute Claire Martin told Livingston Sheriff Court that Hyndman went into the living room and ran towards the man he had been arguing with earlier.

He had the bat raised over his shoulder and swung it at the man attempting to hit him, the fiscal depute explained.

She told the court that officers within the home told him (Hyndman) to drop the bat but Hyndman ignored them

Ms Martin said that Hyndman continued to attempt to strike and attack his victim, causing them to use CS spray on him.

At this point he fell to the floor and dropped the bat and was detained by the police.

Two more officers were called to assist and at this time O’Rourke then entered the kitchen area of the property.

The police officers approached the 24-year-old and he began shouting and swearing at them. O’Rourke was asked to stop but continued and was arrested.

Last week at the court Hyndman, 24, whose address was given as Rowan Street, Blackburn pled guilty to assaulting his victim by brandishing the baseball bat and attempting to strike him with it.

O’Rourke, whose address was given as Elm Road, Blackburn, pled guilty to assaulting a female by striking her on the face and admitted causing a breach of the peace by shouting and swearing at police officers.

Sheriff Graeme Warner ordered both men to carry out 80 hours of community service for the offences.