A dad-of-three left his best friend with a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain after pushing him over in a Midlothian pub.
Steven Lannagan had been out for drinks with Ian Callachan, a close pal of 25 years, at a bar in Dalkeith. The 45-year-old pushed Ian, who had been leaning in close to speak with him, causing him to stumble and fall.
Ian struck his head on the concrete floor and lost consciousness for around 20 minutes. Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard how Lannagan was distraught and tried to give Ian first aid.
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The court heard Ian was taken to hospital and found to have a skull fracture and bleeding at the right temporal lobe of his brain. Lannagan appeared at court on Tuesday and pled guilty to assaulting Ian to his severe injury.
Fiscal depute Jennifer McLaren said Lannagan had been out for a meal and drinks with people including Ian and his partner. Ms McLaren said the group were in The Buccleuch pub at around midnight.
She said Ian had been “leaning in towards the accused repeatedly in order to speak to him” as he stood in the bar area with his hands in his pockets.
The prosecutor added: “At this point, the accused has used his right hand to push Mr Callachan to the chest, causing him to stumble backwards and fall to the ground.”
“Mr Callachan has hit his head on the concrete floor, causing him to lose consciousness. The accused immediately rushed to his side and attempted to assist him.”
The court heard Ian was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by ambulance where doctors treated him for injuries including a two-inch laceration to the rear of his head.
Defence agent Brian Gilfedder said his client and Ian “had been best friends for 25 years prior to the incident”. Mr Gilfedder said Lannagan, who works in the hospitality industry, had been out with friends and Ian had joined them later.
The solicitor said Ian was “according to my information, considerably under the influence of alcohol” when he met them. Mr Gilfedder told the court that Ian wasn’t able to break his fall with his hands in his pockets.
He said Ian had a previous fracture in the same area and that might’ve been “exacerbated by this further fall”. He added his first offender client was in tears following the incident on October 29 2021, and was “appalled” by what happened.
Sheriff Donald Corke fined Lannagan, of Preston, Lancashire, £640. He also ordered him to pay £750 in compensation to Ian.
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