Scottish Cup Final – Scottish anti-independence summit held in Edinburgh – David Gilroy – Serious assault – Edinburgh hotel wins Hotel of the Year award
What a weekend of football, sun and celebrating! Hearts beat Hibs convincingly 5-1 at Hampden on Saturday, and if you don’t know that already you must have been asleep since Saturday. The football match was one part of the weekend, but the other was the victory bus tour which went from the City Chambers to Tynecastle yesterday afternoon, apparently watched by around 100,000 people. And the best part? The weather which was glorious yesterday afternoon for the celebrations! (And apparently more to come this week…)
Lothian and Borders Police praised the public for ensuring the match and the victory parade were both a huge success for the city.
Over 50,000 supporters attended the match at Hampden stadium, while thousands more watched the match at home or within licensed premises.
Lothian and Borders Police and their partner agencies carried out a major operation on match day and on the day of the parade to ensure public safety was maintained throughout and to facilitate an historic and family-friendly weekend for the capital.
Eight people were arrested in Edinburgh yesterday for offences including alleged breaches of the peace and assault.
However, police and partners have hailed the weekend as a major success with no significant incidents having occurred.
Chief Superintendent Gill Imery, Divisional Commander for the City of Edinburgh said: “With Edinburgh’s two professional teams facing each other in a major cup final, worldwide attention focused on Edinburgh, Glasgow and the fans and organisations associated with the match.
“I am delighted by the manner in which members of the public conducted themselves. Both sets of fans were a credit to themselves and their clubs as they travelled to and from Glasgow and while they watched the match, either within the stadium, at home or in licensed premises.
“Detailed planning between all partner agencies was carried out prior to this event to ensure the public were aware of all key issues including transport arrangements, local bylaws and planned activities for both clubs.
“Significant police resources were in place to assist fans as they made their way to watch the match and to deal with any issues that arose. The feedback from officers across all forces has been extremely positive and the engagement between police and public appears to have been a key factor.”
***
The Daily Mail reported at the weekend the there has been a tea party held at Edinburgh MP Alastair Darling’s Edinburgh home, where his wife apparently served tea and sandwiches to those attending who were discussing their proposals for an anti-independence campaign. David McLetchie, Conservative MSP for the Lothians, was also on the guest list, according to the paper.
***
David Gilroy who was jailed for life for the murder of Edinburgh bookkeeper, Suzanne Pilley, only last month, has been assaulted in prison. According to The Edinburgh Evening News his jaw was broken by another prisoner yesterday, and he was taken from Shotts Prison where he is being held, to hospital for treatment. Apparently he had been boasting about his forthcoming appeal, and the possibility of going free.
***
Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was seriously assaulted in Edinburgh on Saturday night.
The 30-year-old man was standing with a group of friends outside Pearce’s Bar in Elm Row about 11pm when a group of around ten men approached them and engaged them in conversation. After a verbal dispute, one of the men punched the victim and knocked him to the ground, causing serious facial injuries. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment to a fractured jaw, but has since been transferred to St John’s Hospital, Livingston, where he remains.
Officers are now sourcing CCTV footage in the area in a bid to identify the group of men involved, and would encourage them to come forward themselves.
The group of men, who made off immediately after the assault, are believed to have been aged between 18-20-years-old, and were all wearing casual clothing – one of them was wearing a hooded top with three blue stripes on the sleeve. There is no description available of the suspect.
A police spokesman said: “This seems to have been an unprovoked assault that has left a man requiring surgery in hospital, and we would appeal to anyone with information regarding this to come forward.
“We know there were a lot of people outside the pub when this happened, and a large group of men involved, so would ask anyone who hasn’t yet spoken to police, to contact us on 0131 311 3131.”
Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
***
The five star, luxury Chester Residence in Edinburgh’s West End has been named Hotel of the Year 2012 at last night’s 9th Annual Scottish Hotel Awards.
Co-owners Graham and Gillian Wood were presented with the award during a glamorous ceremony held at Glasgow’s Thistle Hotel – which has been dubbed the industry’s ‘Hotel Oscars.’
Graham says: “As a small, family run business winning this coveted award in such a competitive category is just fantastic. Since we first opened in 2009, our whole team has worked extremely hard to continuously improve on every aspect of the service we provide and I want to use this opportunity to thank them, especially our Head of Group Operations, Rory MacAleece, who has been instrumental in the business’s success over the years.
“I’m delighted that these efforts have been recognised by the industry and guests alike.”
The Chester Residence is a luxurious collection of 5-star townhouses, situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s stylish West End. Since opening in 2009 it has grown a loyal following of repeat visitors who value its combination of chic designer suites, attention to detail and high level of personalised service.
The property maintains a rating as one of the Top 25 hotels in Europe by the leading global travel website Trip Advisor amongst other awards received since opening just three years ago.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
