Fire chief’s job on line after attack on boy, 9.
A fire chief’s career could be in ruins after he was found guilty of grabbing a nine-year-old by the throat and calling him a “vindictive wee b*****”.
Crew Commander Brian McLaughlin, 38, of Troon, has been suspended from duty after attacking the primary schoolboy by pinning him to a wall.
He flew into a rage after the lad tripped up his six-year-old sister, Ayr Sheriff Court heard last week.
Giving evidence from behind a screen, the boy told how McLaughlin grabbed him by the throat and shoved him against a wall.
The boy’s mum, who cannot be named to protect her son’s identity, said in evidence her son said McLaughlin had sworn at him.
The Fire Service Team Leader, who is based at Ayr Fire Station, has now been suspended from his job.
Last night, Ruth McLeod, a spokesman for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed McLaughlin was suspended while an internal investigation is carried out.
She said it was not the service’s policy to sack workers with criminal convictions.
But she added: “We look at each case on its individual merits. We do not want to prejudge any disciplinary process.”
The schoolboy and his sister had been at their home in South Ayrshire when he was attacked by McLaughlin. He told the court about the assault and verbal abuse but said he couldn’t be sure of the exact date or time.
McLaughlin grabbed him by the throat and pushed him against a wall, he told the court. The boy admitted sometimes misbehaving, including shooting his water pistol at passers-by.
Stephanie MacDonald, prosecuting, said the boy told his mum McLaughlin swore at him.
McLaughlin, who has a previous conviction of abduction dating back to 2005, denied assaulting the boy. He told the court he had not touched the boy but admitted he could have shouted at him. He couldn’t remember swearing, he said.
McLaughlin also pleaded not guilty to assaulting the six-year-old girl by pushing her.
Giving evidence the girl said that she had no recollection of what happened.
Sheriff John Montgomery acquitted McLaughlin of the assault on the girl but found him guilty of grabbing the boy by the throat and pinning him against a wall.
He was also convicted of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm by shouting and swearing.
Sheriff Montgomery said that he believed “every word” of the boy’s evidence.
The sheriff deferred sentence for reports.
As he left the dock the fire officer demanded that his solicitor, Gregor Forbes, should lodge an appeal against his conviction.
The trial was initially called in June but collapsed after the young girl refused to answer questions.
McLaughlin will appear for sentence next month following last week’s retrial.
John Duffy, of the Fire Brigades Union in Scotland, said he could not comment on the case.
“It may prejudice any involvement in internal discipline cases,” he said.
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