Popular pub is petrol bombed

May 28 2009 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

POLICE were this week hunting a violent gang who attempted to burn down a popular Hamilton pub.

Cowardly vandals hurled two petrol bombs at Guys Inn, Meikle Earnock Road, on Monday at 12.05am.

It was the second time the premises had come under attack in seven hours.

Four men are believed to be involved in both incidents.

In the first, regulars were sitting in the bar when they heard two huge bangs at the pub’s front door.

The explosion occurred on Sunday at 5pm – about two hours after the SPL-title decider.

David Redpath (46), the licensee of the pub, went out to find out what was going on.

A green saloon car was seen driving off at high speed.

It’s thought that a car stopped outside the pub and an incident took place there.

The second attack came shortly after closing time when there was no-one in the pub.

Four men draw up in a dark saloon car around 12.05am.

One of them leapt out of the vehicle and launched the petrol bombs at the pub.

The yob lit two glass soft drink bottles full of petrol and threw them at the premises.

One of the petrol bombs bounced off the front window’s wire grille while the other caused extensive smoke damage to the front door.

Luckily, a taxi driver was passing and noticed that the pub was on fire.

He managed to put out the blaze before emergency services arrived on the scene.

Mr Redpath was shaken by the incidents.

He said they were ‘isolated’ and nothing to do with the football earlier that day.

The father-of-two told the Advertiser: “We are all shocked by what happened.

“I would like to thank the taxi driver for his quick actions.

“If it hadn’t been for his intervention, then the whole pub could have caught fire.

“I have an idea who did this, but I don’t want to say any more than that.

“It was nothing to do with people inside the pub.

“We just hope the people behind the fire-raising attacks leave us alone.

“They are dangerous people.”

Mr Redpath’s family have been involved in the pub for the past 70 years.

His mother was the licensee for 25 years before he took over 10 years ago.

Mr Redpath has vowed to step up security at the premises following the incidents.

“It’s business as usual for us,” he said.

“I would just like to thank our customers for sticking by us.

“The pub has an excellent reputation.

“There is never any trouble here.

“It’s local clientele and everyone knows each other.”

One shocked resident, who lives across from the pub, added: “The sirens of the fire brigade woke me up.

“I didn’t see anything happen.

“It’s very unusual for an incident like that to happen at the pub.

”This is normally a quiet area and there’s never been any bother in the past.”

Police are treating the incident as wilful fireraising and appealed for witnesses.

Detective constable Paul McDougall, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are particularly keen to trace the taxi driver who helped to put out the flames before the emergency services attended.

“He may have some crucial information that can help us with our enquiries.

“We are very thankful that no-one was injured during this incident.

“We would urge residents who may have seen or heard something suspicious around the time of the attack to contact us.”

Witnesses should contact DC McDougall on 483300, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 where calls are free and anonymity can be maintained.