Don't jail us... we're caring for Big Mags
Hamish Hutchinson • Published 13 Jul 2012 10:00
A SOLICITOR urged leniency for the son and grandson of 'Big Mags' Haney so they could look after the terminally ill ex-drug dealer.
Stephen Maguire said Hugh Haney and John Donald wished to help the infamous matriarch, as she watched on from the public gallery.
Mags Haney, pictured, rose to prominence when she led a campaign to oust paedophiles living in the Raploch area in Stirling where she stayed during the late 1990s.
She was later exposed as a heroin dealer and sentenced to 12 years behind bars. Several members of her family were also jailed for drug offences.
She fought cervical cancer whilst inside. Now out of jail and living in Alva, she has lung cancer.
Haney (40) and Donald (23) appeared in the dock having pled guilty to stealing five bottles of Sidekick from an Alva store.
The pair were seen on CCTV taking the booze and Donald taunted staff as he left.
He told them, "I don't give a f*** what you do. Phone the police."
Haney, of Johnstone Court, Alva, appeared from custody at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday.
He was joined by Donald, of Zetland Street, Clackmannan, and they both admitted shoplifting on 13 June at Day to Day in Stirling Street.
Donald also pled guilty to resisting arrest on the same date. Fiscal depute Sue Ruta explained that Haney and Donald were both seen acting suspicious in the shop at about 10pm.
She said Donald was seen taking bottles from the shelf and as he left he turned and dared staff to call the police. Haney left shortly after.
CCTV revealed Donald stealing three bottles of Sidekick and Haney taking two.
When officers arrested Donald, he struggled with them and began shouting and swearing.
And despite being caught with a bottle of alcohol down his trousers, he continued to protest his innocence; when questioned by officers Donald told them, "Clearly it wasn't me that stole it".
The court heard that just five days later Donald was arrested again; this time for spouting racial abuse at a shop worker of K A Stores in Myretoungate, Alva on 18 June. He also pled guilty to that offence.
Defence agent Mr Maguire said Donald had a "sustained period of good behaviour" prior to the offences.
He said that his client had been out drinking to celebrate getting a job when he committed the theft. "He wanted more drink and he couldn't pay for it," he said.
Mr Maguire told the court that Donald's uncle, Hugh Haney, had been in custody for the last three weeks and during that time he had detoxified.
He said that both men wished to help their terminally ill mother and grandmother, Mags Haney.
Mr Maguire went on, "Having had an extended period of sobriety Mr Haney is in a best position to help his mother. His main priority is his mother and then his own health."
Sheriff David Mackie ordered Haney to complete 80 hours of unpaid work over the next six months. He deferred sentence on Donald until 4 October for good behaviour but warned him he could face a period of unpaid work.
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 11 Jul 12
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