Echo And The Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch has successfully defeated assault charges made against him, though he has been convicted with the lesser crime of breach of the peace relating to that previously reported incident backstage at the Glasgow Barrowlands last October.
The dispute was between McCulloch and two (former, presumably) fans, Gary Duncan and Juliet Sebley. For reasons I still haven't completely fathomed, they found themselves backstage after the Echo And The Bunnymen gig, and made use of McCulloch's back stage toilet facilities. McCulloch confronted them as to why they were in his dressing room - and that's where the two sides' versions of events differ.
McCulloch says that he politely asked the couple to leave but, when they didn't, he pushed the toilet door, which was unlocked, and which swung round and knocked Sebley in the face. Duncan and Sebley claim McCulloch became loud and unruly when he came across them, that he made threatening comments, that he pushed Duncan forcefully, and that he kicked the toilet door in, injuring Sebley.
Hearing the case, magistrate Robert Hamilton ruled that McCulloch could not be found guilty of the assault charges, but did rule the singer had been guilty of a breach of the peace. On that, he added: "I'm going to take a very lenient view. This took place in an area where there were very few members of the public".
Leaving court, McCulloch reassured reporters that the incident would not stop him playing Glasgow in the future. He said: "I love Glasgow. It is brilliant and the Barrowlands is the best venue in the world. I'm just glad it is all over. I look forward to playing Glasgow again."