Community service for death threat man A PORT man has been ordered to carry out community service for threatening to kill a woman and causing a breach of the peace.

John McGuire, 43, pictured, made the threat after discovering a relative was chatting on the phone to his ex-partner at his Colonsay Avenue home.

He has now been made the subject of a two-year order preventing him from harrassing her.

The offence happened in January when he was on a bail order for a breach of the peace offence that happened two months earlier in Sinclair Street, Greenock.

Depute fiscal Pamela Brady told Greenock Sheriff Court how during that incident, the offshore worker was seen ‘staggering’ while under the influence of alcohol.

When police officers stopped him he began shouting and swearing and told them that if they didn’t let him go he would ‘chib’ them.

McGuire pled guilty to both offences at the court, where he was represented by solicitor Aidan Gallagher. He was also sentenced to 240 hours of unpaid work.


£10k for sports club GREENOCK Cricket and Hockey Club are celebrating after receiving over £10,000 of funding.

The club’s Colin McDougall says £11,315 from the Scottish Government’s Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund will make a huge difference.

A synthetic grass training area is to be developed with the cash.

Colin said: “The provision of this facility will be a catalyst to participant attraction and retention.”
Show about famous poet A SHOW which explores the work of legendary eccentric Ivor Cutler is coming to Greenock this month.

The Scottish poet, songwriter and humourist was signed by all the major record labels, influenced The Beatles and championed by John Peel.

Vanishing Point and the National Theatre of Scotland present The Beautiful Cosmos of Ivor Cutler at the Beacon on 23 April.


Two saved from fire TWO people were saved from a flat fire in Greenock yesterday morning thanks to a sprinkler system.

The blaze took hold in a second floor property in Sandpiper Lane at around 3am.

By the time fire crews arrived it had been extinguished thanks to the in-house sprinkler which was automatically activated when the fire took hold. The male and female inside the address were uninjured.


Praise for Ton’s coaching events A COUNCILLOR has praised Morton for getting out into the community to promote exercise and wellbeing.

Councillor Chris McEleny visited the Greenock Morton Community Trust (GMCT) coaching sessions in action at Inverclyde Academy — and heaped praise on the organisers.

Mr McEleny said: “I enjoyed seeing the great work GMCT are doing for Inverclyde improving our area and finding our future stars.”
Free acrobatics A FREE open event takes place in Greenock tonight previewing a Commonwealth Games showcase.

It will preview the White Gold five-night acrobatic show which will be held at the Sugar Sheds in June.

Tonight’s preview starts at 7.30pm in the Beacon.


Thief stole SatNav from unlocked car A THIEF stole a £150 satellite navigation device from an unlocked car in Greenock.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the equipment was taken from a vehicle in Mearns Street between 6.30pm on Tuesday and 9.45am on Wednesday.

Detective Sergeant Gordon Smith, from Greenock CID, said: “Somebody left their vehicle unlocked and the satnav has gone missing.

“We would like to remind readers to make sure their property is locked and secured at all times.”
Christmas IRH row A GREENOCK man is facing sentencing for misbehaving in hospital on Christmas Day.

Callum Bonnar, 21, acted aggressively, shouting and swearing at Inverclyde Royal while waiting to be treated for an injury.

Bonnar, of Maple Road, appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court to admit the offence through solicitor Aidan Gallagher and he will be sentenced later this month.


Attack on jail inmate A PRISONER is to be sentenced this week for assaulting another inmate in jail.

Ryan Herd, 27, punched the man at Ailsa Hall in Greenock Prison in June last year.

Sheriff Derek Hamilton deferred sentence on Herd until Wednesday for a personal appearance.


‘Mystery drink’ man changes plea after advice A MAN dramatically withdrew his plea to a charge of putting a mystery substance inside a bottle of juice at a Greenock shop.

Ross McBean, 34, admitted stealing a Robinsons Fruit Shoot from Cowden’s newsagent in Lynedoch Street on 11 November.

But he denied putting a similar bottle onto a shelf where it was later purchased and drank by a four-year-old boy.

McBean had previously pled guilty to two charges in a letter to Greenock Sheriff Court.

But after receiving legal advice from solicitor Aidan Gallagher he appeared at the court to withdraw his plea to the second charge.

It alleges that he conducted himself in a disorderly manner and placed a Fruit Shoot among similar bottles which contained an ‘unknown substance’.

The charge states that the bottle was bought by a dad for his son who later drank it to the ‘fear and alarm’ of both his parents.

Sheriff Tom Ward asked: “What was contained in the bottle?”. Mr Gallagher replied: “Water.” He said that McBean, of Lynedoch Street, had originally bought the drink from Cowden’s for a child and, after it was consumed, refilled it with water so the boy could drink it later. Upon returning to the shop he swapped it for an unopened Fruit Shoot.

Sentence was deferred until Wednesdayl and the second charge was continued without plea for further investigation.


Talk held tomorrow A TARTAN Talk takes place at Lyle Gateway in the Lyle Kirk, Union Street, tomorrow from 10.45am.

It will feature an illustrated slideshow by Andrew Pearson and David Stirling from Inverclyde Tourist Group.

Both men serve at the Clan Desk at Greenock Ocean Terminal, helping cruise liner tourists discover the meaning of their Scottish surname or any clan connections.


Meeting of St Columba THE next meeting of the Knights of St Columba Council 350 will be held on Tuesday.

It will take place in the Unity Club at 7.30pm.