Accused trio ordered to leave the isles

Three men have been ordered to leave the isles within 12 hours after allegedly carrying out a number of offences in Lerwick.

South Tyneside men Neil Barr, 33, of Aspen Place in South Shields and 40-year-old Lee Donnelly, from Lune Green in Jarrow, appeared in the dock before honorary sheriff Willie Shannon alongside co-accused Michael Ward, 33, of West Yorkshire’s Pontefract.

Barr is charged with shouting and swearing at the Lounge Bar in Lerwick on Saturday night, behaving aggressively and threatening a female member of staff. He is also alleged to have stripped off before walking around the bar naked, and also struggling violently with police in Law Lane.

Donnelly is charged with threatening a lone female member of staff in the pub and, together with Ward, resisting police and attempting to release a man from lawful custody in Law Lane.

Donnelly and Ward are also said to have shouted, sworn and acted aggressively.

The trio denied the charges against them, and were released on bail pending intermediate and trial diets.

But they were ordered to abide by a special condition that they leave the isles within 12 hours, and not return unless for court proceedings.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said any failure to appear at the intermediate diet, set for 2nd September, would result in new complaints being served.

“Any claim that they have lost their job and can’t afford to travel to Shetland will not constitute a reasonable excuse for non-attendance,” he told the court.

Trial was set for 1st October.