Woman scarred after being 'bottled' at party in police officer's flat

Nursery nurse Hanna McNicol alleged she was struck by Darren Mulholland at the property in Renfrew, which was hired out as a party flat, last October.

Several people were injured after the 21st birthday party they were at erupted in violence and the investigation into the circumstances led to Mr Mulholland and four others being charged.

Mr Mulholland, 23, denied assaulting Ms McNicol, 22, and Anthony O’Neill, 27, at the flat in Ferry Village.

He went on trial at Paisley Sheriff Court accused of raining kicks and punches on Mr O’Neill’s head and body and assaulting Ms McNicol, leaving her badly hurt and scarred for life, with a bottle.

But Mr Mulholland, of Hillington, walked free after a jury found the charges against him not proven by majority.

Procurator fiscal depute Alan Parfery had asked the jury to convict Mr Mulholland of both charges on the basis of Ms McNicol’s evidence.

He told them: “Hanna McNicol was bottled on that night.

“This was mindless, alcohol-fuelled violence perpetrated on her on that evening.”

The court heard the flat, owned by Detective Constable Louise Aitken, had been rented out for a 21st party on the evening in question and that “word spread” of the gathering.

Mr Parfery said it turned into “a melee.”

After the jury ruled it could not be proved that Mr Mulholland was responsible for the assaults, Sheriff Susan Sinclair thanked them for their time.

During the trial, four others were cleared of any criminal involvement at the party, after the charges against them were withdrawn.

Jordan McKenzie, 24, was said to have helped Mr Mulholland assault Mr O’Neill by kicking and punching him and striking him with a knife or a similar weapon, leaving him scarred for life.

Jamie Martin, 27, Ross Currie, 24, and Gary Smith, 23, were said to have assaulted Lee Barton by kicking and punching him, hitting him with a belt and leaving him scarred for life by striking him on the face with a sharp weapon.