By GRANT McCABE

THE man once accused of murdering gangster Kevin ‘Gerbil’ Carroll has been cleared of being involved in a street attack on three men.

Ross Monaghan was said to have taken part in an assault – with one alleged victim left with his ear hanging off.

Edward Lyons, 38, son of crime boss Eddie Snr, as well as Andrew Gallacher, 39, and Liam Boyle, 37, were also charged.

The four denied the accusations during a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

But, the case yesterday collapsed after prosecutors withdrew the charges against them following two days of evidence.

It is the second time in five years Monaghan has walked free after a trial.

In May 2012, he was acquitted at the High Court in Glasgow following claims he had gunned down Kevin Carroll at an Asda supermarket in the city’s Robroyston.

A judge at the time ruled there was insufficient evidence to convict the 35-year-old.

This latest case centred on accusations three men were attacked outside the Campsie Bar in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire in April last year.

Robert Lyle, one of the trio, said he had been at the pub after a weekend of birthday celebrations.

Prosecutor Mark Allan put it to the 55-year-old that the night finished with Mr Lyle ending up in hospital.

The taxi driver was said to have been assaulted and knocked unconscious in the street outside the pub.

The fiscal asked Mr Lyle if he recalled being in an ambulance. He replied: “No.”

The court heard he suffered a number of injuries including a torn left ear, a broken nose, a brain bleed and other “complex” fractures.

Mr Allan then asked: “Can you explain how you came about these injuries?”

Mr Lyle told Glasgow Sheriff Court: “I can’t really remember much.”

The prosecutor: “What do you remember between the Campsie and the time in hospital?”

The cabbie: “Nothing.”

The jury heard Mr Lyle gave a statement to police at the hospital. He said he provided “the truth I believed at the time”.

Mr Lyle was then played CCTV footage from that night captured close to the bar. He said it appeared to show “a kind of disturbance”.

He told the jury: “I know that there is a fight, but I cannot make out any individual.”

Mr Allan put to the witness: “Do you know anything about the group of people fighting?”

Mr Lyle: “Do I know anything about it? Should I? Obviously I must have been involved.”

As he watched the clip, he said it appeared there was someone on the ground “getting a kicking”.

Mr Lyle claimed it must have been him after being told he was “unconscious for a wee while”.

His brother Alex Lyle and friend William Logue were also said to have been attacked.

Monaghan, of Penilee, Gallacher, of Battlefield, both Glasgow, Lyons, of Cumbernauld and Boyle, of Bellshill, both North Lanarkshire, had been accused of attacking the men to their severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

After hearing from several witnesses, fiscal Mr Allan told Sheriff Martin Jones QC he was withdrawing the libel against the four.

The prosecutor added: “In my judgement the point has been reached – and knowing what other evidence may have followed – it is no longer safe or responsible for the Crown to proceed further.

“I make that decision in light of a number of factors.” Mr Allan said this included “flawed identification evidence”.