Armed Forces Day attacker saves £1500 by paying victim

AN attacker who left a man with four fractured ribs has saved himself £1500 by stumping up half the compensation he was ordered to pay his victim.

Michael McGee, of Royston Mains Road, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty last year to assaulting piper Steven Robertson, who was taking part in Armed Forces Day in June 2010.

The brawl broke out after kilted Mr Robertson, a member of the Royal Scots Association Pipe Band, allegedly made comments about McGee’s daughter and her friend in the Horseshoe Bar in Leith Street.

McGee’s sentence was deferred for nine months for good behaviour and he was told to pay Mr Robertson £3000.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday he handed over £1500 and offered to pay the remainder at £40 a month.

But as he was now the sole breadwinner for his family, Sheriff Alisdair Noble said he would end the matter by imposing a 150-hour Community Service Order.