Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lanarkshire Live

Lanarkshire councillor 'left teacher in tears after trying to stop her voting'

An SNP councillor allegedly left a teacher in tears amid claims he tried to stop her voting.

Greg Lennon is said to have confronted the 56-year-old woman, at the Brunswick Centre in Glasgow's Barmulloch on General Election day on December 12 2019.

The woman claimed Lennon told her she was "barred" from the polling station and stated: "Get out, you cannot come in here."

Lennon - who represents the Gartcosh, Glenboig and Moodiesburn ward in North Lanarkshire - also allegedly filmed the grandmother before he was arrested.

The accusations were made at the 43 year-old's trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Prosecutors state he acted in a threatening and abusive manner.

It is claimed he used his mobile phone to record the woman without permission, shouted at her, tried to stop her getting into the hall and that she was not allowed to enter and vote.

The court papers state this was to the upset and alarm of the teacher and people with her.

A second charge under the Representation of the People Act claims the councillor tried to prevent a person from voting.

Lennon, of Gartcosh, denies the allegations.

The woman told the trial how she had gone to the hall with her daughter, who is also a teacher, and a young boy.

The witness claimed she then entered “one metre” into the centre and was confronted by Lennon.

She said: “He was shouting and was all over my face, using his body to usher me out the door and had his camera filming.

“He was shouting ‘get out you cannot come in here, you are barred’.”

The gran claimed she felt intimidated by Lennon.

She stated she eventually entered to vote while Lennon continued to record her.

The witness added: “He said she is not allowed to vote, she is barred from this centre, which was untrue.”

She said she cried and felt ashamed due to the accusations made by the councillor.

The woman told the trial she managed to vote but was filmed “from start to finish” by Lennon.

Prosecutor Amanda Gallagher asked what position Lennon had in relation to the centre.

The witness replied: “I think he is the owner, he told me - that is his words.

“He is maybe a coordinator as he was involved with activities.”

Lennon’s defence counsel Lili Prais asked the woman if she had been given a police warning not to attend the centre due to an earlier unrelated matter.

The witness denied this.

Miss Prais then asked if she had said anything to Lennon and she replied: “I said I am not voting SNP.”

The advocate put to her whether mobile phone footage allegedly taken by Lennon would show her saying that it would “go viral.”

The witness said: “No, I do not use social media.”

The footage of the incident was then played to the court.

A colleague of Lennon appears to say that they were told by police that the woman was not allowed in the centre.

She is heard to say that they were “misinformed.”

Miss Prais asked: “Is it fair your said a lot more to Mr Lennon?” and the witness replied “Yes.”

Miss Prais followed up: “Do you make reference to your husband coming up?”

The woman replied: “Yes, but not in a threat.”

She also agreed that the footage showed her saying that the video would go viral.

The witness stated: “As a Catholic, a teacher and a nanny, there was no way I was told I was never allowed in that centre.”

The summary trial, without a jury, continues next month before Sheriff Sean Murphy QC.

Lennon remains on bail meantime.

*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.