An Aberdeen teacher accused of assaulting a pupil has been allowed to be named – despite a legal bid to ban his identification.
Alan McCartney, a teacher at an Aberdeen school, is alleged to have assaulted the child by striking him on the head last year.
The 51-year-old denies the charge against him.
His solicitor Peter Keene had made a motion at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to restrict the press from naming his client, claiming doing so would also identify the youngster involved.
He said: “I’m asking for an order in terms of section 47 to restrict the reporting of the accused’s name in this case because that would inevitably lead to the identification of the complainer.”
Case will call in court again in February
However, fiscal depute Tom Procter argued the naming of McCartney would not reveal the identity of the child, and that imposing any additional reporting restrictions would only serve to help McCartney “escape public scrutiny”.
Restrictions are already automatically in place under the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, which prevent the publishing of information that would lead to the identification of complainers under the age of 18, including naming the school.
Sheriff Ian Wallace adjourned the case to new dates for a trial and pre-trial hearing, adding that he was making “no further order”.
He said: “The restrictions in place in terms of section 47 are there. It’s for the media to comply with these restrictions.”
The case against McCartney, whose address was given in court papers as Victoria Road, Alford, will call again in February.
For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen, as well as the latest crime and breaking incidents, join our new Facebook group HERE.
