THE casting vote of Glasgow’s licensing committee chairman narrowly prevented a man jailed for culpable homicide from becoming a private hire driver.

Alexander Gallagher, who was locked up after admitting killing Gavin Wright, of Barrowfield, in August 2004, had applied for a temporary six-week licence.

He told the committee how since his release he had worked in the parks department at Glasgow City Council, being promoted to a supervisor role.

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After deliberating on the application, licensing chiefs reached a stalemate, with three in favour of granting the licence and three against.

Chairman Alex Wilson, who has the final say on tied votes, broke the deadlock – ruling against Mr Gallagher.

A Police Scotland representative said, on August 9, 2004, Mr Gallagher had assaulted a male, kicking and stabbing him. The man was “so severely injured” he died, the officer added.

Mr Wilson, addressing the applicant, said: “What can I say, I know you’ve been to prison for this offence. It doesn’t make good reading.”

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Mr Gallagher, who said he spent six years and eight months in prison, asked the committee to take into account his work history when considering the application. Asked whether he had undertaken any anger management courses, Mr Gallagher said he hadn’t met the criteria while in prison. “It wasn’t my decision,” he added.

Councillor Wilson, seconded by councillor Elspeth Kerr, moved that the application was refused. Councillor Rhiannon Spear, seconded by councillor James Coleman, put forward an amendment, calling for the application to be granted. The motion was carried after Mr Wilson’s casting vote.

Mr Gallagher and his father, Alexander Gallagher senior, who shouted encouragement from a window of the family home during the attack, were arrested following the incident in 2004. The victim suffered multiple skull fractures and 17 stab wounds, a court heard during trial.

In June 2010, the High Court in Glasgow heard how in 2005 the Gallaghers were both convicted of murdering Mr Wright and ordered to serve at least 15 years in jail before being eligible for parole. But, after the trial, examination of CCTV footage cast doubts on two witnesses and the Appeal Court quashed the convictions.

The Crown, which was given authority to raise fresh proceedings, later accepted the father and son’s pleas to a reduced charge of culpable homicide. The court had also heard how the Gallagher and Wright families were involved in a long-running feud which began when racing pigeons were found dead in a loft.