A 2023 assault at Rewind Festival has left a Perthshire university lecturer with devastating injuries, including the loss of sight in one eye and the potential for its complete removal. The 53-year-old victim, who attended the Scone Palace music festival with his family, was brutally attacked by two men following a seemingly innocuous conversation.
The victim, whose right eye was already compromised due to a pre-existing condition called keratoconus, suffered severe trauma to the eye, including a major haematoma and extensive internal damage. He also endured a broken orbital bone, a broken jaw requiring a metal plate and screws, and six chipped teeth. The attack has drastically altered his life, leaving him with limited vision and reliant on a white stick for mobility. Attackers Plead Guilty, Await Sentencing
The assailants, 33-year-old Patrick Kerr and 38-year-old Simon Tierney, both from Glenrothes, have pled guilty to the assault. The High Court in Dundee heard how the incident unfolded after the victim politely declined repeated offers of a chip from Tierney at a food stall. Tierney became aggressive, and when the victim tried to disengage, the attack began.
Witnesses described both men punching and kicking the victim with significant force as he lay defenseless on the ground. Security personnel intervened and apprehended the two men until police arrived. At the time of their arrest, both Kerr and Tierney claimed to have been victims of an attack themselves, with Tierney alleging he was knocked unconscious and awoke to find Kerr embroiled in a fight. These claims appear to contradict witness testimonies. Long-Term Impact on Victim’s Life and Career
The victim, a lecturer at the University of Highlands and Islands, now faces profound and lasting consequences from the assault. His loss of vision has severely impacted his ability to work and engage in everyday activities. The court was told the victim’s right eye was his ‘good eye’, making the attack’s impact even more severe. He currently struggles to see anything beyond three meters. The victim impact statement, which details the life-altering effects of the assault, will be considered during sentencing. The incident has raised questions about security measures and crowd control at large events such as Rewind Festival, especially considering the aggressive nature of the attack and the severity of the injuries sustained. The judge, Lord Renucci, has remanded both men in custody and deferred sentencing until next month to allow for the preparation of social work reports. They will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
The victim’s injuries, coupled with the accused’s guilty pleas, suggest a significant jail term is highly likely.
The victim, whose right eye was already compromised due to a pre-existing condition called keratoconus, suffered severe trauma to the eye, including a major haematoma and extensive internal damage. He also endured a broken orbital bone, a broken jaw requiring a metal plate and screws, and six chipped teeth. The attack has drastically altered his life, leaving him with limited vision and reliant on a white stick for mobility. Attackers Plead Guilty, Await Sentencing
The assailants, 33-year-old Patrick Kerr and 38-year-old Simon Tierney, both from Glenrothes, have pled guilty to the assault. The High Court in Dundee heard how the incident unfolded after the victim politely declined repeated offers of a chip from Tierney at a food stall. Tierney became aggressive, and when the victim tried to disengage, the attack began.
Witnesses described both men punching and kicking the victim with significant force as he lay defenseless on the ground. Security personnel intervened and apprehended the two men until police arrived. At the time of their arrest, both Kerr and Tierney claimed to have been victims of an attack themselves, with Tierney alleging he was knocked unconscious and awoke to find Kerr embroiled in a fight. These claims appear to contradict witness testimonies. Long-Term Impact on Victim’s Life and Career
The victim, a lecturer at the University of Highlands and Islands, now faces profound and lasting consequences from the assault. His loss of vision has severely impacted his ability to work and engage in everyday activities. The court was told the victim’s right eye was his ‘good eye’, making the attack’s impact even more severe. He currently struggles to see anything beyond three meters. The victim impact statement, which details the life-altering effects of the assault, will be considered during sentencing. The incident has raised questions about security measures and crowd control at large events such as Rewind Festival, especially considering the aggressive nature of the attack and the severity of the injuries sustained. The judge, Lord Renucci, has remanded both men in custody and deferred sentencing until next month to allow for the preparation of social work reports. They will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
The victim’s injuries, coupled with the accused’s guilty pleas, suggest a significant jail term is highly likely.