Dundee-born kicker Graham Gano wants to return to his roots and brush up on his Scottish accent after helping the Carolina Panthers win Super Bowl 50 this weekend.

There will be British interest in Santa Clara when the Panthers meet the Denver Broncos on Sunday as Gano was born in Dundee and hails from Arbroath, where his US Navy officer father was based in the late 1980s.

It is the Panthers kicker’s heritage that led half-time act Coldplay to pledge their allegiance to Ron Rivera’s side this week, and Gano is keen to take his current family to visit where he was born in the near future.

Speaking ahead of the big game on Sunday, he said of his relatives north of the border: “My aunt and uncle came and visited this past year, they travel a lot so I’ve got to see them quite a few times.

“I haven’t been back in a while. I want to take my wife and my kids back and see my family – I’ve got my sister, aunt and uncle, cousins and nieces (in Scotland). It will be good to get back and maybe pick my accent up again!

“My wife’s been bugging me for a while, she wants to go visit places. Hopefully we’ll have that opportunity when our kids get a bit bigger. It will be hard to travel all the way across the ocean with two small kids but it will be great to be able to go back to where I was born.”

Gano has told his wife he is hoping the Panthers elect to kick off at Levi’s Stadium so he can be the one who triggers the array of camera flashes for the beginning of the NFL’s biggest game.

And he would welcome the pressure of a potentially game-winning field goal later in the night too after previously booting over the kick that won the Las Vegas Locomotives the inaugural United Football League Championship Game in 2009.

Gano had dropped out of the NFL at that point, having been discarded by the Baltimore Ravens, and he was let go again by the Washington Redskins before finding his feet in Charlotte.

Now he is aiming to follow in the footsteps of fellow Scot and former New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes, who was born in Greenock and won two Super Bowls titles with Big Blue.

“I feel like it took me a little while just to figure kicking out,” Gano admitted. “I kicked one year at Florida State and then in Baltimore, I don’t think I was really prepared for it – I learned a lot there.

“Then the UFL really helped me out and by the end of my career at Washington I figured things out and they let me go. I’m loving things in Carolina; I think that’s home for us, we’re definitely loving playing football.”

Two teenagers are to stand trial accused of torching a derelict former hospital and “totally destroying” everything inside.

Liam Burns and Aarron Beveridge are accused of setting a blaze at Strathmartine Hospital on June 1 2013.

It is alleged the pair set fire to waste material and “other unknown items” within a derelict building in a secure compound at the former hospital.

Prosecutors say the fire destroyed all items stored within and caused extensive damage to the building.

Burns, 18, of Ballantrae Terrace, and Beveridge, 19, of Teviotdale Avenue, pleaded not guilty on indictment to a charge of wilful fireraising.

Sheriff Pino di Emidio set the trial date for April 21.

A man remains in a critical condition following a ‘serious’ road crash yesterday.

Two people were rushed to Ninewells Hospital following the smash on the A90 outside Stracathro services at 11am.

The Vauxhall Corsa the pair were travelling in left the northbound carriageway and careered into a road sign.

Fire crews were called to the scene to free the casualties who were trapped in the wreckage.

A 30-year-old woman who was driving the car suffered minor injuries, however a male passenger, 31, was seriously injured.

Today his condition was described as critical but stable.

A spokesman for Scottish Fire and Rescue said: “We received a call at 11.06am and had two appliances in attendance, one for Brechin and one from Montrose.

“Two people were trapped after an accident involving one car.

“The car had left the carriageway and was on the grass verge. There were two people still within the vehicle.

“Personnel administered first aid and the ambulance was in attendance.

“Fire rescue used a long board to help release one of the passengers, assisted by the paramedics, and then the ambulance dealt with them medically.”

Part of the northbound carriageway was closed off officers carried out their investigations.

Anyone who witnessed the smash is being urged to contact the police.

A police spokesman said: “A green Vauxhall Corsa left the carriageway, resulting in a man in his twenties and a female in her thirties being taken to Ninewells Hospital.

“To assist with inquiries, police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision to make contact via 101.”

TWO friends today said they thought they were going to die after a car they were both in smashed into a tree.

Flatmates Iona Townsley and Holly Jones were travelling together to a party in Aberdeen when their car hit water on the road and aquaplaned up an embankment before crashing.

Holly, 20, walked away with only bruises but Iona, 19, was taken to hospital where doctors fought for three hours to stabilise her.

She was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where she also received scans for suspected bleeding on her brain.

Iona said: “When I got to hospital my heart rate and pulse were racing and they were concerned about a bump I had received to the head.

“It was several hours before they were happy with my condition.

“We feel really lucky to be sitting here today telling the story. We were really scared we were going to die.”

Holly, who was driving, described the accident as “terrifying”, adding: “One minute we were driving along happily and then the next minute I had no control of the car and we ploughed straight off the road.”

Holly, a retail assistant, and Iona, a service adviser with a car company, were travelling on the Montrose to Laurencekirk road, near Marykirk, around 6.45pm on Saturday when the accident happened.

The girls, both of Cupar, said that after Holly’s car, an Audi, hit the water it went up an embankment, knocked down a chevron sign and went head on into a tree.

Iona, originally from Lunanhead just outside Forfar, said: “Police at the scene told us we were very lucky that we weren’t more badly hurt.

“They reckon that because the embankment went uphill that slowed us down and hitting the chevron sign stopped us hitting the tree at greater speed.”

Holly reckons she was only travelling at around 45mph when the accident happened.

“I don’t really know that road too well so I wasn’t driving fast at all.

“I just felt the car hit the water and then there was nothing I could do to control it.”

The girls said they were able to get themselves out of the car and Holly managed to call the police herself.

Other motorists stopped to help and the girls were driven to Marykirk Hotel where they waited for an ambulance to take Iona to hospital.

Iona added: “I was in a complete state of shock and was very distressed.

“The accident really scared us both. Thank goodness we are both OK.”

A witness today described the dramatic moment armed police swooped to detain five men after sealing off McDonald’s in Arbroath.

Officers sealed off the area and moved into detain the men, and later confirmed that the operation was in relation to the theft of a bank machine from a shop in Carnoustie.

At around 10am a number of police officers and vehicles swooped on McDonald’s in the Westway retail park.

In a statement, a police spokesperson said: “Police Scotland can confirm that five men have been detained in relation to the theft of an ATM from a shop premises in the Barry Road area of Carnoustie this morning.

“The incident occurred at around 4:30am and the men were detained by specialist officers at Westway Retail Park in Arbroath.

“The detentions are part of an ongoing police operation involving officers from Police Scotland’s Organised Crime Unit based at the Scottish Crime Campus in Gartcosh, officers from Tayside Division and Titan (North West Regional Crime Unit, England).

“As part of the operation, vehicle tyre deflation rounds were discharged directly into vehicle tyres. This is a recognised and practiced tactic which is used specifically to disable a vehicle and was deployed in order to reduce any potential wider impact to the public and to maximise their safety.

“As a result, and in line with routine procedure, this incident will be referred to PIRC for review.”

One witness described the drama which unfolded at the fast food outlet.

Scott Barber, 41, from Arboath was with son, Jay, 13, at McDonald’s when the incident happened.

Oil industry worker Scott said: “We were sitting in the drive-through parking waiting for our food. There was a guy just walking about, looking out towards the sea. As soon as he got back into a white Mercedes, the police swooped.

“The police must have been watching them and waiting for the guy to get back in the car because as soon as he did, they pounced. I think they must have wanted to contain them.

“I heard ‘bang, bang, bang’ and it looked like paintball ammunition, there was a purple puff in the air.

“I thought there were about four or five armed response unit members who rushed at the Mercedes and got the three guys out of the car.

“We were shouted at to move from where we were. The police were there for about five or 10 minutes making enquiries, but they were letting people leave.

“It was very surreal and very quick. I was in the forces for four years, and I was impressed, the guys were obviously good at what they do.

“Everyone inside was glued to the windows looking out in amazement and, when I went back in, they were all talking about it.”

A huge police presence was spotted around Tayside and Angus as the hunt for the suspects continued.

The shop in Carnoustie was this morning cordoned off with a police officer stationed outside.

About a quarter of the security shutter behind the shop’s glass door has been ripped off leaving a gaping hole.

A heavy police presence was visible around the area and further afield – including on Dundee’s Kingsway.

A police helicopter has also been circling the area.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous.

Dundee and Tayside has been placed under a weather warning with snow and freezing temperatures expected on Saturday.

The Met Office has issued a yellow ‘be aware’ warning for snow and ice as a band of cold air moves south from the north of Scotland.

The warning has been put in place from midnight tonight until midnight tomorrow.

Icy conditions and a dusting of snow can be expected throughout the region.

Emma Sharpels, a forecaster for the Met Office, said that Saturday will be pretty chilly but that Sunday will be slightly ‘warmer’.

She said: “There is a band of wintry showers over the North east of Scotland at the moment. That band of showers will slowly make its way down south.

“Tomorrow, the cold band of air will reach the Dundee and the Tayside area bringing with it wintry showers.

“This will fall as sleet in more coastal areas but will fall as snow inland. In terms of amount, we could see around 5cm on land above 200m above sea level and around 2-4cm on lower levels, so enough to cover the ground.”

Ms Sharpels added that road users should be aware of hazardous driving conditions and warned that ice could pose a danger.

She said: “The warning we have issued is for snow and ice and motorists should be aware of tricky travel conditions.

“Temperatures could be as low as -1C overnight into Saturday with highs of only 4C during the day.

“All the time this band of weather will continue to move south and should make for a slightly warmer Sunday.”

A young badger was ‘sett’ free after a spell behind bars yesterday.

The young badger was found stuck between a set of protective bars and a window at Angus Council headquarters in Forfar.

However, the critter couldn’t burrow itself out of the predicament it came to be in.

Thankfully, it was discovered by councillor Glennis Middleton who summoned help from a joiner and the SSPCA.

Unharmed, the badger was then taken away by animal welfare staff, though how it came to be stuck was not so black and white.

A MAN has warned against sharing addresses on online sites after his beloved Land Rover was stolen from right outside his home.

Mechanical engineer Lloyd Davison, 27, had been working a night shift when he returned to find his £7,000 green Land Rover Defender missing from the driveway.

Mr Davison told the Tele an advert he placed online seeking parts for the car, which included his address, could have led the thieves to it.

He said: “I got back from work just before 7am and realised straight away that someone had pinched it.

“They had not taken the keys, so I’m assuming they either had a truck to load the car onto or managed to hotwire it.

“It is a very distinctive vehicle so I cannot understand why someone has stolen it, unless they intend to hide it away and break it down for parts.

“I’ve spent a lot of time and money refurbishing and restoring it, so I’ve lost a lot more than just a car.

“It was a hobby as well. I was in a state of total shock really and am absolutely gutted.

“I’ve had a couple of people get in touch to say that it isn’t the first time it has happened recently.

“I had the advert online for parts for the Defender, and had put my address on there.

“It is possible the thieves could have targeted me through there, so I would advise anyone to avoid leaving their address on any ad as you never know who is reading it.

“I would estimate the car would be worth about £7,000 now, but the insurance will only pay out the original market value, so I will lose all the money I have put in to improve it.

“I would appreciate any information that might help at this stage, and will offer a substantial reward for anybody who comes forward with information that leads to us finding the car.”

Pictures of the bottle green Defender, with the registration plate S832 KTS, have been circulated on social media in a bid to track it down.

The thieves could have struck any time between 9.30pm on Wednesday and 6.30am yesterday from Mr Davison’s address in Arbroath.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “This incident has been reported to us and inquiries are now ongoing.

“Anybody with information is urged to contact us.”

Police say that five men have been charged after a bank machine was stolen from a shop in Carnoustie on Friday morning.

The men will appear at Forfar sheriff Court today, which comes after a huge police operation following the incident on Friday.

A police spokesperson said: “Police Scotland can confirm that five men have been charged in relation to the theft of an ATM in the Barry Road area of Carnoustie on Friday 12 February.

“The five men, from the Liverpool and Birmingham areas, aged 26, 27, 28, 32 and 43 are expected to appear at Forfar Sheriff Court on Monday 15 February.”

A BEREAVED daughter has hit out at thieves who stole precious items from her late mum’s home.

Irene Ali, 65, who ran the former Benazir Restaurant in Carnoustie, died in November and her house had lain empty since.

Her daughter Asha Martin, 38, was appalled to find many precious items stolen from her mum’s home of 10 years last week in what she thinks was a deliberately targeted theft.

She said: “My mum passed away a couple of months ago but I’ve found out that someone had stolen property from the garden and the cellar.

“I had offered some of her garden furniture to my father-in-law and he went to pick it up on Wednesday but when he got there, it was gone.

“I went down and the garden table and chairs were gone and a lot of ornaments have been taken.

“One in particular that stands out is a wooden cow painted black and white that you can fill up with soil and flowers.

“There’s also a windmill-type ornament with flowers in it that was stolen.

It used to belong to my uncle, who had also died.

“Then I went into the cellar and found that tools that belong to my brother, who has also passed away, have been stolen as well.”

Asha, who owns The Sands restaurant on the Esplanade at Broughty Ferry, said it wasn’t the value of the items stolen that had most upset her — it was because they had belonged to her loved ones who are no longer alive.

She said: “It’s such a quiet area and there’s a lot of older people living here so it has obviously been someone who has been watching the house.

“Things have never been touched before when we’ve gone on holidays and things, so it’s awful that they’ve done this when she’s died.

“It’s just sick and it just brings everything back from my mum passing away.

“I don’t care about the value of the items, it’s the fact they belonged to members of my family that are no longer here and someone has swiped the lot.

“With the amount of stuff that has been taken — the table and chairs — it probably would have taken two to three people to move and they would have needed a van unless they lived really close by.”

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “We can confirm that theft of garden furniture from an address in Lochend Road, Carnoustie, was reported today.

“Inquiries are at an early stage.”

Traffic on the A90 has been disrupted this morning after a crash near Brechin.

One lane is closed and there is slow traffic on the northbound carriageway due to the accident, which is thought to involve a single vehicle, at 7.30am.

The male driver was not thought to be seriously injured, according to a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman.

He needed to be cut from his car due to the severity of the crash but walked, assisted, to an ambulance for treatment.

One man has been injured following a multi-vehicle crash in Angus.

Emergency services were called to the Fishacre Roundabout on the A92 in Arbroath just before 7am.

Three vehicles, a Vauxhall Mokka, Renault Megane and a Toyota Yaris, were involved.

Fire crews were called to the scene after reports the man was trapped in one of the vehicles, but was freed prior to their arrival.

He was then taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for treatment. His condition is unknown.

The road was closed for a time while police officers carried out their investigations.

Gillian Ross, 48, who works at the Baker & Confectioner next to where the incident happened, said: “I saw blue lights arriving at about 7am.

“It was dark so I couldn’t see much, but it looked like two cars had hit each other head on as they were right next to each other with both front ends damaged.

“That circle has been a nightmare since it was put in. We’ve seen a lot of minor accidents and near misses, as I don’t think people realise that it’s there.”

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to assist police at a road traffic collision at the Fishacre Roundabout at 7am.

“One person was trapped but was free from the vehicle before our arrival.

“Two appliances from Arbroath made the scene safe.

“The casualty was then taken to Ninewells Hospital.”

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “One man suffered an injury.

“One lane of the road was re-opened at about 8.20am.”

An SPFL side has come to the rescue of an amateur Dundee football team after their kits were destroyed.

The weekend fixtures of Barnhill AFC were jeopardised when Grossi’s in Broughty Ferry was gutted in a fire.

Both of their teams’ kits were destroyed when the launderette, on Gray Street, went up in flames earlier this week.

But Montrose Football Club has come to their rescue for the weekend’s fixtures by donating strips.

Montrose club captain Paul Watson, 30, said: “It came about through one of my best mates James Ferrie, who plays for Barnhill.

“He told me on Tuesday that his team’s strips were in the launderette that caught fire in the Ferry and that they had nothing left.

“I just thought right away that the club might be able to help them out.”

James said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity and it’s a grand gesture from Montrose.

“We’ve also had many offers from local clubs to assist us in our hour of need. It has been an amazing response.”

A 79-year-old man has died following a serious road crash today.

The A92 between Montrose and Arbroath remains closed following the three-vehicle smash at around 12pm.

A car, a van and a pick-up truck were the vehicles invovled.

A pensioner, who was the driver of a red VW Golf, was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been made aware.

The 47-year-old woman driver of a blue Mercedes Sprinter Van sustained serious injuries and the front male passenger suffered minor injuries.

The 50-year-old male driver of Ford Ranger pick-up also suffered minor injuries in the collision and all were taken to Ninewells Hospital by ambulance for treatment.

Fire crews also had to cut one of the casualties free from a vehicle with hydraulic cutting gear.

A statement from Police Scotland read: “A report on the circumstances of the incident will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.

“Anyone who was in the area before or at the time of the collision and has any information that could assist officers with their enquiries, should contact Police Scotland on 101.”

Police say the road is expected to re-open later this evening.

A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to attend a three-vehicle crash on the A92 by police officers.

“A pick-up truck, a car and a security van were involved

“One person was trapped in one of the vehicles.

“The individual was freed by firefighters using hydraulic cutting gear.

“One crew from Montrose, one from Brechin and a specialist rescue team from Macalpine Road in Dundee are in attendance.”

Nearly 500 racial hate crimes have been reported in Tayside in less than two years — a figure which has been branded “alarming”.

The Evening Telegraph can reveal 470 hate crimes were recorded between April 2014 and December 2016.

Of these, 397 were solved.

Most of the crimes — 249 — were reported in Dundee.

The figures were described as “very alarming” by Faisal Hussein of the Yusuf Youth Initiative (YYI), who said the issue looks to be getting worse.

Mr Hussein, project manager for the community group, said: “I personally only know of five incidents which have taken place in the city in recent times but these figures really put that into stark perspective of how serious the issue really is.

“It is very alarming to hear the problem is that bad in Dundee and has me concerned for a lot of people in the city.

“In my opinion the issue is getting worse. I have never heard of so many incidents taking place in that short space of time.”

Across Angus, there were 92 recorded incidents, of which 89 were detected across the same time period, with incidents in Perth tallying up to 129 recorded and 114 detected.

There were also 28 recorded religious hate crimes across the Tayside region.

Mr Hussein added that, in his experience counselling Dundee’s Muslim community, it is mainly women who are affected by racial or religious abuse.

He also said he was concerned about the incidents that are not recorded through fear of being targeted further.

“For us at YYI, the most common experience we have to deal with is to do with women who have been targeted because of burkas or head scarves,” he said.

A police spokeswoman said tackling hate crime is a priority for the force, adding: “Offenders should be in no doubt that we take incidents very seriously and will work together with partners to bring them to justice to ensure that their negative and damaging actions have consequences.”

A man who was killed in a road crash on Friday has been formally identified.

Police have named him as George McAllister from Broughty Ferry.

The 79-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene after the Volkswagen Golf he was driving was involved in a collision with a pick-up truck and a van on the A92, just outside Montrose.

A 47-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man in the other vehicles were left injured and taken to Ninewells Hospital for treatment.

The road was closed for several hours while investigations were carried out.

A statement from Police Scotland read: “As with all sudden deaths a report will submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”

A pair of Dundee United fans travelling to watch their team have been banned from one of the supporters’ clubs buses for allegedly taking drugs on the journey.

The A90 Arab Society takes fans from Aberdeen, Brechin, Forfar and Dundee to home and away games.

A statement on the group’s Facebook page on Saturday said: “Following a committee meeting before today’s game we feel we need to remind anyone who travels on the bus that any taking or possession of illegal substances will not be tolerated.

“We have decided that the people who were caught doing it by some of our members on the bus to Hamilton will be banned for the rest of the season and this will be reviewed at our AGM in the summer.”

The incident is said to have taken place on the bus as it made its way to New Douglas Park to play Hamilton Accies on February 13.

When asked for further comment by the Tele, the supporters’ group would say only that the matter “had been dealt with by the committee”.

People commented on the post backing the action.

One said: “Well said — no need doing stuff like that with kids on the bus.”

Another said: “Hopefully other supporters groups follow in your footsteps.”

“The ban should have been for life rather than the season,” according to another poster.

An investigation has been launched after a mixed race family were subjected to abuse on a train.

The incident happened on a Dundee to Aberdeen service just after 6pm on Saturday.

A man shouted racially offensive comments at a 29-year-old man and his 43-year-old wife, according to British Transport Police.

The couple, who were travelling with their young daughters aged 11 and six-months-old, were left shaken and extremely upset by the incident.

The suspect, described as being in his late fifties, 5ft 5in tall and wearing a brown jacket, got off the train at Montrose station.

Police are now reviewing CCTV footage, which has not been released, in an attempt to identify the man.

Detective Constable Derek Alexander, the officer in charge of the inquiry is appealing for witnesses to come forward.

He said: “This was a completely unprovoked incident which has really affected the family and I am anxious to trace anyone who has information which can assist our enquiries and urge them to get in touch.”

British Transport Police can be contacted on 0800 40 50 40 or by texting 61016 – quoting reference B1 of 23/02/2016. Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

There are 53 patients in Tayside being advised to arrange a blood test after they were among those treated by a former healthcare worker who tested positive for hepatitis C.

More than 8,300 patients across the UK are being urged to arrange a test after two infected patients were found.

The worker did not return to clinical practice after testing positive in 2008, but NHS Lanarkshire is now working with other health boards to notify people who may have had a surgical procedure carried out by the individual between 1982 and 2008.

The individual worked in hospitals across Lanarkshire, mainly in Wishaw General and the former Law Hospital.

The person also worked at the William Harvey Hospital in Kent for three months between January and April 2006.

When the worker initially tested positive in 2008, the UK Advisory Panel said patients did not need to be warned as the risk was thought to be low, but two cases have now emerged.

It was found a patient referred for treatment for hepatitis C in Lanarkshire in 2015 had previously had a surgical procedure carried out by the infected healthcare worker.

Further investigations found it was “probable” the patient was infected during a surgical procedure carried out by the individual and another similar case has now been found.

The health board said: “Patients are receiving a detailed question-and-answer sheet with their letter which includes information about hepatitis C and how to arrange to be tested.”

In total, 8,383 patients across the UK are to receive letters informing them of the situation.

The vast majority — 7,311 — are in Lanarkshire, with more than 700 across the rest of Scotland, 336 in England, 11 in Wales and five in Northern Ireland.

Dr Iain Wallace, medical director at NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We would like to reassure people the likelihood of patients acquiring the virus from a surgical procedure is low.”

The virus infects the liver and can cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage. Around 215,000 people in the UK have hepatitis C, says the NHS.

It is usually spread through blood-to-blood contact and can be passed by sharing unsterilised needles, razors or toothbrushes.

The NHS said it does not have any noticeable symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged, meaning people can have the infection without realising it.

TWO police officers have been charged with assault following an alleged “rammy” at a Tayside nightclub.

An investigation was launched following reports of a disturbance at De Vito’s, on Millgate in Arbroath, earlier this month.

A source told the Tele that “a big rammy” allegedly broke out in the club.

Police later charged four people in connection with the incident.

It’s understood that the two off-duty Tayside officers who were allegedly involved have been moved elsewhere within the force while their case is ongoing.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed that four men were facing charges in relation to the incident.

However, the force declined to comment on whether serving officers were involved.

She said: “Police Scotland can confirm that two men, aged 29 and 21, and two men aged 44, have been charged in connection with a disturbance at a nightclub in Millgate, Arbroath, that happened in the early hours of Friday February 5.

“A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

The charges include assault and licensed premises offences.

David Hamilton, who is chairman of the North Area Committee of the Scottish Police Federation – the body that represents officers – said he knew about the alleged disturbance at the nightclub but would not confirm whether the body will be representing the officers facing the charges.

He told the Tele: “I’m aware there was an incident in De Vito’s.

“I can’t confirm if they are police officers or not – I’m just aware of it.

“It’s not my role to say if they are police officers, particularly due to the security of officers and the current threat level.

“I won’t say anything that may identify anyone that is a police officer or not.”

Janet Hood, lawyer for De Vito’s, claimed that no staff members from the nightclub were involved and said the venue had handled the incident well.

She said: “The management of the club are happy for me to advise that the police have told them they were happy with the way club’s management handled the incident.

“They would like to stress that no member of club staff, stewards or management has been charged in relation to this incident.”