April 14, 2008
Alcoholic wife beater can keep his taxi licence
AN ALCOHOLIC who beat up his wife has been allowed to keep his taxi licence - after she spoke out to defend him.
Glasgow black cab driver Robert Munro punched his partner of 40 years repeatedly in the face, leaving her with bruises and swelling.
The 59-year-old told police: "She's lucky I didn't kill her. She got off lightly."
Strathclyde Police objected to Munro's licence renewal, saying he was "not fit and proper" to carry passengers.
advertisementBut despite the assault, his wife Frances told Glasgow City Council's licensing court her husband deserved to keep his licence.
Following the plea, councillors on the committee which grants licences allowed Munro to continue driving a cab.
The decision came despite Munro telling police he had been an alcoholic for around 30 years but had long periods of sobriety.
Since the incident, on December 8 at the couple's home in Millerston, north Glasgow, Munro said he had sought further treatment for his alcoholism.
Chief Inspector Stuart Neill told the licensing committee Munro had been sentenced to three years' probation earlier this month over the attack on his wife.
Munro, who said he was not currently drinking, told the committee he had admitted to police he was an alcoholic and "very much regretted" the distress caused to his wife.
He said: "My wife and I have got over this and she is here today and very much supports me.
"I have held a taxi licence for 12 years and, as far as I know, I haven't had a complaint against me by a member of the public."
Councillor Stephen Dornan told Munro: "To punch your wife is an absolute disgrace."
Munro replied: "I can't explain my actions."
Committee chairman John McKenzie then invited Mrs Munro to address the committee.
She said: "We've been married for 40 years and we've had a few incidents, obviously, but this was something out of the ordinary.
"It's out of character to do anything like this."
Chief Insp Neill also said Munro committed a breach of the peace in a separate incident in April last year.
Munro told councillors the second incident was a row with his neighbour over a scratch on a car.
Mr McKenzie told Munro he had been "very frank" in his submissions before the committee retired to consider the case.
The councillors decided to grant the renewal for a restricted period of one year and issued Munro with a severe warning.
Mr McKenzie told him: "You came very close to a split vote. Any repeat of this kind of behaviour will not be accepted."
Heather Coady, from Scottish Women's Aid, said: "This sounds like a horrific attack.
"Had it been meted out to anyone other than his wife would the response of the council have been the same?"
Filed under Blog by admin
