Latest news with #Meechan
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Daily Record
Row over dogs led to assault on neighbour
The vitim was pinned to the ground and punched repeatedly. Complaints about his noisy dogs led to a Bellshill man attacking a neighbour in their common garden. Anthony Meechan choked a man before pinning him to the ground and punching him repeatedly. Meechan, 50, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week. He admitted assaulting the man, then aged 29, outside their homes in Elmbank Street on July 2 last year. Meechan also admitted failing to attend court for the case in March this year. Lewis Devoy, prosecuting, said the victim was speaking to a female neighbour around 2pm when Meechan arrived in the garden with his two dogs. Mr Devoy stated: 'There was an argument over the dogs which were barking. 'The accused asked [the victim] 'Do you want to go?', grabbed him by the throat and squeezed it. 'He then pushed his neighbour who fell on to steps. Meechan fell on top of him, pinning him to the ground, and punched him repeatedly on the face and head. '[The victim] responded with punches of his own before the female neighbour stepped forward and pulled the accused off him.' The victim sustained grazing and had back pain in the days that followed. Defence agent Martin Hughes said Meechan has only a 'very limited' criminal record, adding: 'This was a dispute over the dogs more than anything else.' Sheriff Michael Higgins deferred sentence until next month for background reports and continued bail. And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mom Forced to Wait 2-Plus Years for 'Urgent' Ovarian Cyst Surgery, Says There's 'No End Point'
Tracy Meechan, a 41-year-old Scottish woman, said she has now waited over two years for surgery to have a large ovarian cyst removed Meechan told the BBC that her cyst causes her so much pain that she cannot fully bend over and needs help from her children just to put on her socks and shoes She said she feels "forgotten" after spending 100 weeks on a waiting listA woman says she has now waited 100 weeks for ovarian cyst surgery, although she was placed on an "urgent" list for the procedure. Tracey Meechan told the BBC that she feels "forgotten" after spending two years on a waiting list for NHS, the United Kingdom's publicly-funded healthcare system. The cyst pain is so intense that she is unable to fully bend over, and needs her children to help her put on her socks and shoes, and has her husband take care of household tasks. The 41-year-old, who is from West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, worked as a home carer before she "signed off work" in January because of the pain. She told the BBC she feels the effects of her cyst every day that she spends on the wait list. "I can't live my life to the fullest. I can't do the activities I want to do with my kids," she said. "I can't do the job that I love." Meechan first saw her doctor about the cyst in 2021. After the visit, she waited a year to see a gynecologist for the condition, and was put on the "urgent" list for surgery after the gynecologist found that the cyst had grown over the course of six months. Although she initially assumed the surgery appointment would take place "relatively soon" because she was asked about any upcoming holiday plans, Meechan said she still has not been contacted about her cyst removal. She told the BBC, "About a year ago I was advised by the GP to try to get in touch with the gynecology secretary myself and I have been doing that on a regular basis letting them know I am still here and still waiting." Meechan also claimed that the NHS continues to move the timeline of her surgery whenever she calls. She said, "It's another couple of months, or they are working on the routine list, or working on the long waiters." "I was told at week 92 that they were working on women round about week 98-99, so it should be another couple of months," Meechan told the BBC. "When I did get to week 99, I called up because I wanted to keep my employer up to date. I was told they couldn't give me a date and still nothing is fixed yet." Meechan even considered getting the cyst removed through private health care, but the £8,000 price tag (which comes out to $10,806) made the option unaffordable. While waiting for the surgery, she said her mental health has "declined," telling the BBC, "This has been years and the symptoms have worsened. It's impacted my life, my personal life and my family." Meechan feels there is "no end point," telling the outlet, "It's a drudge," and adding, "there is only so much pain relief I can take and still try to be a mother to my children." A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde told the BBC that they "apologize" to Meechan "and to anyone who has faced longer waiting times than expected." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "We recognize the distress this can cause," they said, adding, "We are prioritizing patients based on clinical urgency to ensure those with the most serious conditions are seen as quickly as possible and are taking action to improve wait times." The BBC reports that wait times as long as Meechan's were "rare" before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, nearly 25% of the entire NHS non-urgent care inpatient wait list is made up of waits longer than one year. The outlet reports that the NHS's gynecology wait list had 324 waits of more than three years. Read the original article on People
The Courier
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
‘Gerrymandering' row engulfs first meeting of new-look Angus Council
The first meeting a new coalition-led Angus Council descended into open political warfare amidst a row over committee structures. In the opening stramash since losing minority control of the authority last month, the former SNP administration accused the new ruling group of 'gerrymandering' committee numbers to their advantage. It came after a surprise move by new council leader – and former SNP second-in-command – George Meechan to reduce the membership of key council committees from 16 to 15. It would provide a make-up of seven administration, six opposition and two non-aligned members. Mr Meechan said the change would 'improve the overall stability' of council decision-making. But the nationalist defector's committee proposal sparked fury among former party colleagues. Deposed SNP council leader Bill Duff said: 'It's blatant gerrymandering of the rules to suit the new insurgent administration. 'It would have been courtesy to put this in the (council) papers,' he said. Mr Duff said it was like 'trying to change the rules of the football match while we're on the pitch.' 'It leaves a very bad taste,' he added. 'It's underhand, devious and we should reject it.' Council depute leader Derek Wann hit back. The Arbroath Conservative said: 'I'd like to dispel any myth in this that folk are seeing it as gerrymandering.' 'It's actually to try and run a coherent council, which we haven't seen for the last eight or nine months. 'This is purely to make an efficient and coherent working council for the administration and the officers to get on with the job.' New leader Mr Meechan previously vowed not to be dragged into 'public squabbling' after the change of power. 'The recent changes in leadership are about moving Angus forward, not playing political games,' he said at the time of the power switch. The move split the chamber 14-14. And it was the casting vote of newly-crowned Angus Provost Craig Fotheringham which saw the change to committee structures voted through. Monifieth Conservative Mr Fotheringham had earlier been voted in as the first move of the special council meeting. It was called after opposition rebels claimed control of the chamber with a successful vote of no-confidence in the SNP. Mr Fotheringham defeated the opposition nominee, Carnoustie Independent David Cheape, by 15 votes to 13. The appointment of Depute Provost was a closer run affair. It came down to a cut of the cards for two Brechin councillors after a 14 – 14 vote. Independent administration member Jill Scott secured the role over opposition SNP nominee Chris Beattie.
The Courier
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
New Angus Council leader George Meechan on 'public squabbling'
Angus Council's newly-installed coalition leader says he will not lower himself to 'petty bickering' in the first stramash of his new reign. Kirriemuir and Dean councillor George Meechan will lead a 13-strong Conservative/Independent/Labour alliance which dumped the SNP from power on Tuesday. It came just weeks after his formal resignation from the administration he was part of since being elected in 2022. One-time ruling group colleague David Cheape delivered a blistering attack on the outcome of this week's no confidence motion. It saw the SNP ousted by 14 votes to 13. Carnoustie Independent Mr Cheape, who was Deputy Provost of Angus, said: 'Make no mistake, this is not a coalition. 'This is now a Tory-controlled council, and those who now propose to act as crutches to allow the Conservatives to run Angus Council will, I believe, come to rue the day they signed up to this.' He added: 'The new Conservative administration is propped up by not only the usual 'fake' Independents but, unbelievably, a Labour councillor and an SNP defector. 'They should enjoy it while it lasts as they have been played. 'The only real reason Cllr Meechan left the previous administration was because votes didn't go his way.' Mr Cheape said the new leader should 'resign immediately'. 'The SNP paid his election costs and voters elected him on that ticket. He did not get elected to support a Tory council now,' he added. 'Most of all, I feel sorry for the constituents of Angus standing back and watching this debacle. 'Equally so the council officers having to pick up the pieces of a coup of this nature more than halfway through a council term. 'The ensuing chaos will be felt most by the electorate.' Mr Meechan responded: 'The recent changes in leadership are about moving Angus forward, not playing political games. 'This new administration is focused on delivering results, not fostering division. 'It's time to put the past behind us and work for the people of Angus. 'I am sorry that Councillor Cheape has chosen to lower himself to petty bickering. 'I, however, hold higher standards so will not be participating in public squabbling.'
The Courier
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
Readers react as council coup overthrows SNP in Angus
Angus Council is in the grip of new power after the latest political machinations in the authority's turbulent history. Midway through its five-year reign, the minority SNP administration has been felled by a vote of no confidence. It was sunk by a single vote at a specially requisitioned full council meeting on Tuesday. A 13-strong coalition of eight Conservatives, four Independents and one Labour councillor has assumed control. It will be led by Kirriemuir and Dean member – and former SNP group deputy – George Meechan. Mr Meechan said: 'By coming together we can pool our collective ideas and expertise to create more effective solutions that directly benefit the people we represent.' His deputy leader, Arbroath Conservative Derek Wann vowed: 'There will be no more hectoring from the administration.' But what has been the reaction to the latest twist in the frequently fractious existence of Angus Council? Judging by the response, locals are becoming increasingly fed-up of the town hall soap opera. On The Courier website, the Sentinel said: 'Oh what does it matter who's in charge? 'SNP/Tories/Labour etc. none of them could run a bath. 'They're more concerned with their own egos, petty party politics, in-house fighting and backstabbing than running a cost-effective council that benefits the general public as a whole.' POV100 added: 'Hokey Cokey. Same old, same old. 'Nothing has changed. Musical chairs. 'Playing at politics…At expense of taxpayers. 'Shame on each and everyone of them regardless of the colour of their party hats.' Voter commented: 'Hopefully they will remember that they are there to serve the electorate and put the interests of the electorate first and foremost.' Arbroath's controversial £14 million active travel scheme did not escape criticism. Barkley said: 'Hopefully they realise that virtually no one is happy with the 'place for everyone' and that bridges need to be built with the ordinary people in the streets.' Meanwhile, on The Courier Facebook page, Eric Nicoll said: 'Any councillor who is elected with a party affiliation on their voting slip that swaps parties or leaves a party to become independent should resign and force a by-election, and then stand as an independent. 'I know when you vote you vote for an individual but many people are swayed by the party policies. 'If the candidate is so sure what they are doing is correct then stand as an independent and put their case forward.' Another comment said: 'Doesn't matter who's in 'charge' it's the residents of Angus that will suffer.'
