COUNCIL LEADER'S SON PULLS GUN ON SISTER; Scar-faced thug faces jail term for terrorising teenager.

Byline: Janice Burns

THE son of a council leader was facing jail last night after threatening his teenage sister with a gun.

A court heard how drunken Chris O'Neill, who has twice been locked up for serious assault, pointed the air pistol at his sister Ann, 19, after she refused to give him pounds 50.

O'Neill's dad David heads the ruling Labour group on North Ayrshire Council. A council source said last night: "I'm sorry for him. He's had a lot of trouble with that boy."

Cops armed with sub-machine guns stormed the O'Neill family home in Irvine in May this year after Ann called the police on her 22-year-old brother.

The scar-faced thug had come home drunk at 3pm and demanded cash from Ann.

Lorraine Sweeney, prosecuting, told Kilmarnock Sheriff Court: "The accused asked his sister for money. She refused.

"He was holding an airgun and continued to ask for pounds 50.

"The sister says he was about 12ft away when he pointed the airgun at her. She said it freaked her out.

"He told her there were no bullets in the gun but said he could get them easily."

Scary 

Armed police raced to the house in a quiet street after Ann raised the alarm. A neighbour told the Record: "It was like a scene out of a TV cop drama. It was very scary."

O'Neill, who appeared in court from custody, admitted brandishing an airgun at his sister and placing her in a state of fear and alarm. He was sent back to jail to await sentence at the end of the month.

The court heard that O'Neill has two previous convictions for assault to severe injury. He was sentenced to two years in 2006 and nine months in 2004.

The Record's source at North Ayrshire Council said O'Neill's dad was "a well-respected councillor and leader".

The insider added: "David gets very upset when he talks about his son. The boy is 22 and there is little he can do to control him. It's very sad."

CAPTION(S):

STORMED: The family home. Right, David O'Neill