FORMER Dundee FC owner Jimmy Marr today said he was delighted to walk free from court after he was cleared of assaulting a 75-year-old woman.
Mr Marr was charged with throwing two drinks over the elderly woman and also punching her husband and head butting her friend when they intervened.
The assaults are alleged to have happened at a pub owned by Marr’s company, the High Corner, on Kinghorn Road.
But at court, Sheriff Alistair Carmichael said too much of evidence did “not fit together” and found Marr not guilty on all three charges.
Speaking to the Tele today after court, Mr Marr said he was “delighted” and “relieved” with the verdict.
He added: “I always believed completely that I was not guilty of the charges laid against me. Yes, I was in the High Corner that night for a charity event raising a good bit of money for the Macmillan Nurses but I was accused of things that simply did not take place.
“I have been in the licensed trade running pubs and clubs for 30 years and it was awful to have my character assassinated but justice has been served and I was able to leave court with my head held high.
“I just want to move on and put this behind me. But remember that this has not only been hanging over me since May, it has also affected my wife and family too.
“I’m hugely grateful for all the support I’ve received from my family, friends, customers and I’m just glad it’s all over.”
The incident happened on May 30 last year.
Marr denied pouring the drinks on Margaret Morrell, 75, and attacking the two men, saying he “went to over to see if she was ok”and said: “One of them said it was out of order and got aggressive and went to head me. I grabbed him, birled him round and put him out. There was then a lot of pushing and shoving and I ended up on the floor.”
Solicitor Jim Laverty, defending, said: “The allegation is that he acted like a common thug and in my submission this is not the way in which he behaves.
“He went to the charity event out of duty, having been elsewhere. He gave evidence of having consumed only half a bottle of wine. Other Crown witnesses had been there around four hours, which could affect their perception of events and recollection of what happened.”
Mr Laverty added Marr gave his evidence in a “coherent and fluent” manner.
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