Man in court as brother pays tribute to 'good guy' David

David McCardle is understood to have been hit by a hammer and a beer keg during the Musselburgh attack

David McCardle, 40, died after suffering serious head injuries in the attack near the Clubhouse pub in North High Street, Musselburgh.

A 21-year-old man was due to appear at Haddington Sheriff Court today.

Police were called after the row spilled out of the pub at around 10.30pm on Friday night. They found Mr McCardle and another man outside with serious head injuries.

The other man, Derek Robertson, 47, remains in a serious condition at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

It is believed two men had earlier been thrown out of the bar by Paula Cassidy, 22, Mr McCardle's girlfriend.

Witnesses said Mr McCardle had attempted to intervene, but was set upon himself.

During the assault, it is understood he was attacked with a hammer and struck on the head with a beer keg.

Today, Mr McCardle's brother, Keith, 49, paid tribute to a man who he said would have been quick to step in and try to calm things down when he saw the fight break out.

He said: "That's what he was like - he was just a wee, fun guy, not a bad boy. You hear about people being really nice guys but he really was. His girlfriend works there as well, Paula Cassidy. She's devastated. I think she was there at the time."

Mr McCardle, who was known as Yivil, was originally from Niddrie and moved to Musselburgh as a child.

His brother said: "He's got five brothers and three sisters, and he's the one that made sure we didn't stray apart. He was out all the time and always having a laugh. He didn't fight in his life."

He added: "There are over 1000 messages on Facebook. He was really popular.

"It always happens to the good guys, not the bad guys."

He said his brother, who worked as a joiner, was "Celtic daft", adding: "He was hard-working, a really good joiner. He had just got his life together, he had just got a flat, he had got a lot of work.

"It's such a waste, just meaningless. I'll never get over this."

Mr Robertson's brother, Peter, said as well as head injuries, his brother had suffered smashed ribs, a punctured lung and damage to his kidneys.

He said: "He went to help, but David was being set upon by the men who were hitting him with a hammer and a beer keg, which belonged to the pub and were near the door.

"Derek was hit over the head several times with the hammer and left for dead. He seems to be OK but he has suffered terrible injuries."

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.