Inverness man brandished butter knife in city centre restaurant

A 27-year-old Inverness man who was seen brandishing a butter knife inside a city-centre restaurant was ordered to remain under social work supervision for three years.

Sheriff Margaret Neilson was told that Daniel Donoghue was an inpatient in a locked ward at New Craigs hospital and unlikely to be discharged in the near future.

She decided against jailing Donoghue or give him hours of unpaid work because of his current situation.

The Sheriff added: “The public protection is served by the compulsory treatment order he is on.”

Last month, Donoghue admitted committing a breach of the peace inside McDonald’s restaurant and on neighbouring Castle Street, at about 8.10pm on February 16 last year.

His lawyer, Hamish Melrose told the court: “He has been diagnosed schizophrenic.”