Black Isle neighbours' dispute escalated to axe incident, Highland court told
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A neighbourly dispute ended in bloodshed when one took an axe and struck the other on the arm.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 51-year-old Philip Gallagher of Ormonde Terrace, Avoch caused a small cut on the arm of the man who lived next door.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir told Sheriff Sara Matheson: "It was about 7.15pm on January 26 this year when the occupants of number 45 went outside to move a bin and have a cigarette.
"The accused was also outside and a verbal altercation ensued. Then he went into his house and came out with an axe. He was swinging it around and it struck his neighbour's arm.
"The axe was wrestled from the accused and police were called,." Mr Weir added.
Defence solicitor Rory Gowans told the court: "There is a background here" and asked Sheriff Matheson to obtain a background report "to get the full picture."
Sentence was deferred until September 7.
