Man pleads guilty to killing Glasgow pub landlord

A man’s pleaded guilty to killing a pub landlord who kicked him out of his bar.

59.year old Thomas Conaghan went into the Viceroy Bar on Paisley Road West in Glasgow last July and was asked to leave after calling other customers "p***s" and "homosexuals".

Landlord Peter Derrick struggled to remove Conaghan, and when he came back into his pub he suffered a cardiac arrest.

He never recovered from the incident and died 12 days later in hospital.

She said: "Conaghan proceeded to make offensive remarks to other customers.

"He approached three men, repeatedly swearing at them.

"They asked him to leave them alone."

Peter stepped in and told Conaghan he had had too much to drink.

Conaghan refused to leave and "struggled violently" with the landlord, who eventually managed to push him out.

Peter slammed the pub door shut and a customer used his foot to keep it closed.

But, Conaghan thumped to get back in before Peter briefly went out and then returned.

CCTV played in court then showed Peter walking into his pub and then suddenly slumping to the ground.

Miss Labaki added: "Those inside the bar rushed to assist him with one person performing CPR.

"An ambulance was called and arrived within 15 minutes."

Peter was rushed to hospital, but showed "no signs of improvement".

The dad sadly died on July 29 having remained in a coma.

He was found to have suffered a cardiac arrest and a hypoxic brain injury.

A post mortem revealed he also had a heart disease, which meant he was "susceptible" to a potentially fatal attack.

Miss Labaki said: "The pathologists conclude Mr Derrick's ejection of Conaghan was a significantly stressful event and, because of the underlying heart disease, there is a clear link between the incident and the cardiac arrest."

Conaghan – who is partially deaf - was found near the bar that day.

He was initially held for assault and claimed: "I want my lawyer. I don't remember it at all."

The court was told Conaghan suffers from a disorder that affects his "thinking and cognitive function", but that he is "responsible for his actions".

The culpable homicide charge stated he "culpably and recklessly" behaved in an "aggressive and threatening manner".

It also includes Conaghan struggled with Peter, attempted to hit him as well as repeatedly banging and pushing on the door of the pub.

Margaret Breslin, defending, said he wished to "express his genuine sorrow" for the killing.

Conaghan, who had a history of violence, pleaded guilty to a culpable homicide charge at the High Court in Glasgow.

He will be sentenced next month.

It comes after his daughter Robyn Derrick campaigned through Clyde News to have defibrillators installed around Glasgow and the west.

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