by Craig Borland

A CLYDEBANK man has been told to steer clear of alcohol for two months after admitting threatening to slash a neighbour in a drunken row.

Michael O’Neil shouted, swore and threatened violence in the course of the argument at Kilbowie Court on November 17.

O’Neil, 37, committed the offence while on bail – and also breached a special condition of that bail by contacting and communicating with the neighbour.

Fiscal depute Alasdair Shaw told Dumbarton Sheriff Court that O’Neil’s offence came after “a drunken argument” in the common close at the address.

“The accused shouted ‘I’m going to slash you’,” Mr Shaw said, “and a neighbour became alarmed and called the police.”

O’Neil’s solicitor, Brian Lanigan, said the special condition had been imposed on October 28.

Mr Lanigan told the court: “I was unaware on that occasion that Mr O’Neil lived four feet away from the other person.

“He would be willing to accept almost anything to get bail.”

On being told by Sheriff William Gallacher that he was minded to impose a special bail condition banning O’Neil from drinking, Mr Lanigan said his client had been abstinent since his release from prison on an unrelated matter.

Sheriff Gallacher told O’Neil, who now lives at Kingsway Court in Knightswood, to return to court for a review on March 16.

“Not drinking alcohol is now a condition of bail,” the sheriff confirmed. “You don’t have to be drunk – you just have to be seen drinking.”