TWO MEN APPEARED in the dock at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday – just 24 hours after they were part of a fracas caused by rival Traveller families outside the same building.
Ryan Stewart, 22 and from Cullen, admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by running towards others and challenging them to fight on the street outside the court building.
James Stewart, 20 and from Elgin, admitted the same charge with the court told that he was removing his clothing while challenging rivals to a fight and threatening them with violence.
The pair were appeared after the rivals families where scheduled for court appearances on the same day. Shouting was heard inside the court building on Thursday before the rival groups had to be separated by around 10 police officers on the streets outside the building, where they continued to engage in a heated confrontation.
Inside the court it was suggested by fiscal Alison Wylie that officials should take greater care in future to ensure that members of the families, who are known to have a long-running feud, do not appear on the same day.
Criminal justice social work reports were ordered on both men yesterday with sentence deferred until July 7.