Thug convicted of attacking man

Jun 26 2008 by Alastair McNeill

A VIEWPARK thug was last week convicted of attacking a man outside his home.

A jury unanimously found Brendan Goodbrand guilty last Friday of assaulting Stephen Foster in Old Edinburgh Road on September 22, 2006, to his severe injury.

Twenty-four-year-old Goodbrand had seized Mr Foster by his clothing, pulled him to the ground, and repeatedly punched and kicked him on the head and body.

But Goodbrand and his brother Kieran (22) were both found not guilty of assaulting Mr Foster’s nephew, John Matthews, in Old Edinburgh Road by repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body and striking him on the head with a bottle to his injury.

During the course of the five-day trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court, Goodbrand, however, admitted assaulting PC Scott Collins in Cadzow Street, Hamilton, on September 1, 2006.

He had punched constable Collins on the face, knocked him to the ground and rendered him unconscious.

Goodbrand also appeared in the dock, alongside brothers Kieran and Eamonn, on an allegation of assaulting a Ryan McCrumb in Campbell Street, Hamilton, on September 1, 2006.

However, during the trial, the fiscal depute indicated he was not proceeding with the charge and the three brothers were unanimously found not guilty.

All of the accused had denied all the charges facing them at the outset of the trial, and Brendan and Kieran Goodbrand lodged special defences of self-defence in respect of the assault on Mr Matthews.

Giving evidence last week, Mr Foster’s partner Audrey Browning told the court she saw him and another man outside their home at around midnight on September 21/22.

Before she ran back inside to call the police, Ms Browning said the other person, whom she noticed had been wearing a Celtic top, reached out to grab Mr Foster by his top.

She later identified Brendan Goodbrand in the dock as the person who went for her partner.

Sheriff John Miller deferred sentence on Goodbrand, of 4 Eighth Street, Viewpark – for the assaults on Mr Foster and constable Collins – until July 24 for reports and continued bail.