Dunbar holiday park staff in drunken rammy at end of season party

Staff members from Thurston Manor Leisure Park at Innerwick were out for their annual end of season celebration when an argument broke out between several employees.

At the end of the evening chef Caitlin Reid, 23, was in an emotional state due to a recent break up with her boyfriend and became involved in a street row with manager Lauren Fletcher.

The pair squared up to each other but were separated by Thurston Manor waitress Lindy Rosie who was attempting to act as a peacemaker.

But Reid and Ms Rosie, 22, then began grappling with each other and both women fell to the ground during the incident on January 3 this year.

Ms Rosie suffered grazing to her hand due to the fall and after trying to push Reid off her she was punched to the face.

Reid, of Dunbar, was later arrested and charged with assaulting Ms Rosie, Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told.

She denied the allegation and stood trial in front of Sheriff Peter McCormack.

The court was told a large group of employees were out for the evening’s celebrations which were described as an end of season jolly combined with a Christmas and New Year night out.

The group were drinking in The Eagle Inn before some of them left to visit another establishment nearby.

Reid stayed in The Eagle to play pool but was later seen leaving the pub in a tearful state and on the phone to her mother.

An altercation between her and complex manager Lauren Fletcher then broke out in the street which resulted in the pair almost coming to blows.

Ms Rosie told the court Ms Fletcher “was provoking” Reid by threatening to punch her and the pair began pushing each other.

Ms Rosie stepped in to try and pacify the pair but said she ended up on the ground with Reid who then punched her to the head during the altercation.

But Ms Rosie described the incident as “a daft drunken, stupid scuffle” and that she “didn’t really consider it as an assault”.

Ms Fletcher also gave evidence and said Reid had lashed out at her and described a more serious fought between Reid and Ms Rosie to the court.

But her evidence was cut short and defending solicitor Rebecca Weissgerber told Sheriff McCormack her client was willing to plead guilty to a much reduced charge.

Fiscal depute Miriam Clark said the Crown were prepared to accept the change in plea and the trial was halted.

Sheriff McCormack said he was prepared to hand out a warning and admonish her on the charge.

Reid pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace by engaging in a stand up fight at West Port, Dunbar, on January 3 this year.

Her not guilty plea to assaulting Lindy Rosie by seizing her by the body, punching her to the head, pulling her to the ground by her hair and repeatedly punching her to the head was accepted.

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