Paul McNeill's application was continued last month – on the casting vote of the area convener, Councillor David Flear – to await the outcome of a court case involving the taxi driver. On Monday, members of the Caithness area committee, meeting at the Drill Hall in Castletown, heard that sentence on Mr McNeill, who admitted a breach-of-the-peace charge, had been deferred for nine months for good behaviour.

Councillors had previously been told that the 42-year-old takes his obligations seriously and is a congenial person with an easy-going manner but had been under stress following the break-up of his marriage. The charge faced by Mr McNeill stemmed from a domestic incident involving his estranged wife who later asked to have the case against him dropped.

Mr McNeill, who attended Monday's meeting, is "ashamed of his actions" but, according to the Highland Law Practice, is still a fit and proper person to hold a taxi driver's licence. He did not wish to add anything to a report which was presented to the committee by his legal representatives.

Area solicitor/administrator Fiona Sinclair said that no objections had been lodged to the application. The committee decided to renew Mr McNeill's taxi driver's licence.

Later, the councillors agreed that a temporary public entertainment licence should be granted for the Northern Nashville Caithness Country Music Festival which takes place at the indoor riding centre in Halkirk from April 6-8.

Mrs Sinclair pointed out that a licence has been prepared with conditions which are similar to those imposed for last year's festival. "I would recommend that the committee agree that the licence be granted under delegated authority subject to the required conditions," she said.

The committee agreed with her request.

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