Ten-hour siege sparked by row over text message

A FATHER sparked a ten-hour siege in a busy Glasgow street after a fight with his wife over a text message, a court was told.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard John McDermott, 22, who had a stockpile of thunderflash grenades, barricaded himself in his second floor tenement flat in Partick, Glasgow, with a three-year-old girl, on 10 September.

His wife, Jillian McDermott, escaped from the Dumbarton Road flat to a neighbour, who phoned the police.

Armed police and an army bomb disposal squad were called in after grenades were thrown out of the flat's window. Minutes later McDermott appeared bare-chested at the flat door, holding the child under his arm and with a knife at his own throat. Police negotiators talked McDermott into handing over the girl, who was crying hysterically.

As the drama unfolded, Dumbarton Road was cordoned off, police marksmen were on the street and businesses were unable to open for the day. People were also evacuated from neighbouring houses.

McDermott pled guilty to assaulting his wife and police officers. He also admitted breaching the peace.

McDermott's lawyer, Jason Beltrami told the court Mrs McDermott had forgiven her husband and he had apologised for the assault on her.

Mr Beltrami added that his client had suffered from depression for two years and added that the grenades were easily available on the internet and not prohibited.

Sheriff Charles McFarlane QC deferred sentence for background reports and told McDermott he was considering remitting the case to the High Court for sentence.