Grant Easton McDonald

Grant McDonald Died 8th May 2005 Age 38 from Edinburgh. Grant leaves behind two heartbroken teenage daughters Nichola and Cheryl. Step-son Stephen. A loving step-daughter Kelly his two grandkids Charlie-Janelle and Kyle also his loving mother Pat, brother Peter and sister Margaret. Sadly Grants dad Peter passed away last year. Grants life was taken as a result of a fight in our local pub. The ones responsable for this are doing a life sentance but not all involved were sent to prison. Grant was the one and only guy i loved with all my heart. Like Grant said our hearts beat as one. This was so true. Grant could always make you smile, and his eyes were the biggest puppy brown eyes you ever saw. Grant you could always make my heart skip a beat babes you still can. You will never know how much you are loved by all who knew you, and how much you are missed. I will love you Always and Forever babes and i know one day we will be together were we belong. That day cant come soon enough for me babes. They say it gets easyier as time goes by. Sorry but it dont every day for me is the 8th May 2005. You are my life and without you i aint got nothing. Love you to bits babe till we are together again LOVE `N` KISSES Janet xxxx Grant loved his football green and white was his colours, Celtic was his team. I know you will be there at every game singing your fav songs babe along with your brother Pete and the boys. X

Miss you more and more each day Grant. Will never come to terms with what happened and long for the day im back with you were we belong. Love you Always and Forever Grant...xxxxJanetxxxx

4 December 2005
EXCLUSIVE: MURDERED ON CCTV
EXCLUSIVE Pub drinkers watch dad beaten to death They drank a as he died
By Jane Hamilton
A shocking CCTV image shows dad-of two Grant McDonald being punched to death in a busy pub. The graphic 78-second clip helped nail killers Billy Johnston and Charles Woolard.

Several customers carried on chatting and drinking as 38-year-old Grant lay dying on the floor beside the pool table.

One man is seen calmly stepping over his body - and a young woman stops for a look before going to the bar.

Johnston, 29, is seen punching an unconscious Grant eight times on the head as violence erupts.

One witness said Woolard kicked the defenceless victim on the head "like he was taking a penalty kick".

Hairdresser Woolard, 29, is also seen stabbing Grant's friend Craig Lumsden with a pool cue in footage shot at the Waverley Inn, Edinburgh.


Craig, who managed to crawl to safety, said: "Blows were coming from all angles"I was covered in blood and as I felt myself slipping away I thought I have got to get to my feet or I'm going to die here."


Grant, who left behind daughters Cheryl, 14, and 16-year-old Nichola, died from brain injuries a few hours after the attack.


Johnston told police he had been told that he would get £20 for every punch that landed on Grant.


On Friday, a jury at the High Court in Glasgow found Johnston and Woolard guilty of murdering Grant and assaulting Craig.


The video of that Saturday night's bloody bust-up was key to the murderers' convictions. The violence flared after a simmering argument between Grant and Johnston's father, Billy Johnston Snr, who had been drinking all day.


They had been bickering over a relationship between Grant`s nephew and Johnston Snr's daughter.


Craig said that when the atmosphere in the pub became "dodgy" he and Grant left. But they went back in to use the telephone.


He said that he phoned his wife to ask her if she wanted a Chinese takeaway, but said the others thought he was phoning up for reinforcements to help him fight them.


The video from pub security cameras shows the shocking speed and sickening ruthlessness of the attack that followed.


Grant ends up between the two pool tables as Woolard and Johnston begin their frenzied attack.


Callous Johnston rains at least eight punches to Grant's head while Woolard launches his ferocious kicking attack.


Woolard is seen seconds later picking up a pool cue which he jabs at Craig, who was fighting with Johnston Snr near to the bar area.


Meanwhile, Johnston stops his attack on Grant and rushes over to Craig and lashes out with one of the pub's bar stools.


When he gave evidence at the trial, Craig was asked to look at the video but said: "I don't want to watch it. To be honest, I don't want to relive it."


During his attack, Craig managed to seek refuge behind the bar where he collapsed He was saved from further violence by a plucky barmaid who warded off his assailants with a bar stool, telling them he'd had enough.


But Grant was left lying for more than two minutes before a barmaid eventually went to help him.


The two men were rushed to hospital where 10 staples were put in a gaping wound in Craig's head. But there was no hope of recovery for Grant. In the pub, paramedics found he wasn't breathing, although his heart was still beating.


His life support was turned off in the early hours of the Sunday morning.


A member of the dead man's family, who asked not to be named, added: "We are all absolutely sickened.


"The video footage will live with us all as long as we live.


"It only shows around two minutes of real time but seems to go on forever.


"The sight of our Grant lying dead while people carry on drinking and walking around the pub is enough to make you physically sick."


Last night, Grant's grief-stricken elderly mother, Patricia, who left the courtroom to avoid watching the sickening two-minute footage, said her family were still struggling to come to terms with the shocking brutality of herson's death. She said: "We have got mixed feelings at the moment. We're glad we got a result but I don't know how we will come to terms with what happened.


"We just have to try and live with it but it's difficult.


"Grant had a heart of gold and his daughters and his girlfriend, Janet, are just absolutely devastated at what's happened A third accused, Gary Gilchrist, 28, also from Edinburgh, was cleared of the murder with a not guilty verdict, and cleared of assault with a not proven verdict.


Johnston Snr, 55, was cleared of the murder midway through the trial.


Another man, Lee Gilhooley, 29, who was only accused in connection with the attack on Craig, was also cleared during the trial.


After the verdicts it was revealed that Woolard had a lengthy list of previous convictions ranging from assault and robbery to housebreaking, car theft, shoplifting and assault to injury.


At the time of the murder he was on bail for breach of probation.


When the jury foreman announced their verdict, Woolard had to be restrained by his security guard in the dock as he screamed: "That's f ***** . Call that f ****** justice?" Unemployed Johnston had one previous conviction for drink driving.


Judge Lord Kinclaven called for reports before sentencing them later this month


#Callous Shocking CCTV footage captures Billy Johnston Jnr punching Grant's head as he lays on the pub floor.


Grant never regained consciousness.


Johnston also smashed a chair over the head of Grant's friend Craig Lumsden.


Grant and Craig were sitting near the door of the bar just minutes before the fight broke out.


Grant, ended up between the two pool tables as he attempts to get away from Johnston.


The filmed attack lasted 78 seconds.


Grant died hours later in hospital


21:36Billy Johnston, in black top and light trousers, is seen punching Grant McDonald in the head


21:36:02More violent blows are rained on to unconscious Grant by Johnston. It was said someone offered him £20 per punch


21:36:06A regular in the pub moves in to try and rescue Grant as Johnston continues his frenzied attack on his victim


21:36:20Johnston - holding a bar stool over his head - just seconds before he smashes it down on to terrified Craig's body


21:36:22Johnston attacks Craig under the bar while Gilhooley tries to rescue Billy Johnston Snr


21:36:23Evil Johnston is still beating Craig mercilessly as a callous bystander casually steps over Grant's bloodied body


21:36:25A woman attempts to take the cue from Charles Woolard, who is wearing black, as he stabs Craig in the body with it21:36:25Badly-injured Craig's legs are just visible as he lies spreadeagled on the floor while Woolard continues the attack


21:36:26Grant has been abandoned as Woolard continues to attack Craig. The woman is still trying to grab the cue from his hands


21:36:40Billy Johnston Snr crawls away in the background as the battle comes to an end. He leaves the pub at that point


21:36:59The bloody mayhem is over and a pub customer stands and gapes at Grant as he lies dying between pool tables21:37:18Grant is abandoned as customers return to their drinks. It is several seconds later before a barmaid finally goes to his aid.