Roller's relief as row that nearly killed him nears end

Published on Wednesday 3 November 2010 18:13

A BITTER dispute between Bay City Rollers star Pat McGlynn and the city council is set to be resolved after a six-year battle.

&#149 Pat McGlynn is hopeful that the fight over a 15,000 bill will soon be resolved

The 52-year-old guitarist has refused to pay 15,000 owed to the local authority due to the "terrible" standard of work it carried out on the three-bedroom house in Liberton, which he has rented for a decade.

The Edinburgh-born rocker, who lives in Straiton, has previously compared the dispute to the Rollers' battle against record label Arista for royalties, adding that the stress of the situation has affected his health.

It is understood that the council is currently seeking quotes to rectify the building work, which Mr McGlynn said left the modern home "looking like it was about to collapse", after which he will pay only the outstanding amount.

Mr McGlynn said he had received around ten letters over the last two years from the council which threatened court action if the bill was not paid, as well as being contacted by a law firm in late June which threatened to seize the house if the 15,000 was not paid.

The father-of-one is currently recovering after a suspected heart attack on October 3.

He previously told the Evening News that the dispute had been a "nightmare", adding: "I can't sleep at night - I've been to the doctor to get sleeping tablets because it's just driving me crazy."

Mr McGlynn, who lives with his wife Janine Andrews, 50, believes the heart attack was brought on by the stress of the battle with the council and another ongoing court case.

He said: "The former members of the band are fighting for our share in royalties payments. It just feels like it's been going on forever.

"And I'm involved in (the] case with the council - they say I have to pay for work they did but I have been refusing to pay because it was a complete cowboy job.

"My lawyer is in talks with them now to hopefully negotiate something."

In response a spokesman for the city council said: "After recent discussions we are hopeful that a settlement will be reached."

Speaking about the health scare, Mr McGlynn said: "When I got to hospital and the doctor said the words 'heart attack' I just couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"I thought I was going to die. It was so scary."