Thugs attack man at hotel Hogmanay disco

Jan 8 2009 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

POLICE were this week hunting up to 10 yobs who attacked a man at a Hogmanay party in Hamilton.

The 22-year-old was taken to hospital after he was assaulted by the group at the Avonbridge Hotel in Carlisle Road at 12.45 am, just after the Bells.

About 400 people attended the all-ticket party at the hotel where the Newmains man was assaulted.

He was left with a swollen face and cuts and bruises after he was repeatedly punched and kicked about the face, leg and body. The victim was taken to Wishaw General Hospital for treatment to his injuries.

It’s believed that there was no CCTV in the hotel where the incident took place.

Some of the tickets for the party cost £80 and included a meal, disco and overnight stay.

Eyewitnesses claimed one of the men allegedly involved in the attack had been banned in the past from all pubs in Hamilton as part of the town’s Pubwatch scheme. However, the Avonbridge Hotel are not signed up to the scheme.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: “Why are these people being allowed into the Avonbridge Hotel when they are barred from every other pub in Hamilton?

“The brawl broke out shortly after the Bells when everyone was enjoying themselves and the party was in full swing.

“Five or six people viciously attacked this young man. One of them, who is barred from all pubs in Hamilton, accused the young fella of bumping into his girlfriend and swearing at her. “He attacked the man while he was on the floor and the man was then beaten up by about four or five guys.”

She added: “What a Happy New Year it was for him. He had only been enjoying himself and up dancing.

“There were some elderly people at the function and they were left shaken by the incident.

“One of them left because she was horrified by what happened.

“One girl had been anxious earlier that night because she knew who was at the party and thought that trouble was brewing.”

Joe La Piazza, general manager of the hotel, said: “Anyone who regularly frequents the Avonbridge Hotel will know that it has a good reputation as a welcoming, friendly and safe place for families and business people alike.

“The type of incident that occurred on New Year’s Eve at our Hogmanay disco is not in keeping with an event which had been running trouble-free for nearly 10 years.

“Although we monitor and record the sales of tickets by name and number, it is not always possible to prevent a ticket being passed onto someone who, perhaps unknown to the Avonbridge Hotel, has caused similar incidents elsewhere.

“The Avonbridge Hotel would like to assure our customers that every step will be taken to avoid any repetitions of such an incident by reviewing our planning procedures for any future similar event.”

Chief Inspector Tom Aitken, of Hamilton Police Office, said inquiries were ongoing and appealed for witnesses.

He added: “A 22-year-old man was assaulted by up to 10 men who he had never seen before.

“The victim said he was accused of bumping into someone at the bar and then he was assaulted just off the bar area.”

Witnesses should contact Hamilton Police Office on 483300, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, where calls are free and anonymity can be maintained.