A VIOLENT customer killed a pub landlord who had put him out of his bar.

Thomas Conaghan, 59, was ejected by Peter Derrick after branding others drinkers “p***s” and “homosexuals”.

The incident occurred during a quiet afternoon in Peter's family-run Viceroy Bar in Glasgow's Paisley Road West last July.

The 58-year-old struggled to get angry Conaghan out onto the street.

But, shortly after returning to the pub, Peter tragically collapsed having suffered a cardiac arrest.

The popular dad-of-two - who had been in good health - never recovered and he died 12 days later in hospital.

Conaghan – who already had a history of violence – is now behind bars after he pled guilty to a culpable homicide charge at the High Court in Glasgow.

He will be sentenced next month.

Peter ran the Viceroy Bar, which had originally been bought by his parents in 1975.

Glasgow Times: The High Court in GlasgowThe High Court in Glasgow (Image: NQ Archives)

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Prosecutor Maryam Labaki said drunken Conaghan had come in around 4pm last July 17 demanding to be served.

She added: “Conaghan proceeded to make offensive remarks to other customers.

“He approached three men, swearing at them and repeatedly stating 'you are all p***s”, 'f*****t” and 'f*****g homosexuals'.

“They asked him to leave them alone.”

Peter stepped in and told Conaghan he had had too much to drink.

Conaghan refused to leave and “struggled violently” with the landlord, who eventually managed to push him out.

Peter slammed the pub door shut and a customer used his foot to keep it closed.

But, Conaghan thumped to get back in before Peter briefly went out and then returned.

CCTV played in court then showed Peter walking into his pub and then suddenly slumping to the ground.

Peter's daughter Robyn and other family were at the hearing today.

She sobbed as the footage was played.

Miss Labaki added: “Those inside the bar rushed to assist him with one person performing CPR.

“An ambulance was called and arrived within 15 minutes.”

Peter was rushed to hospital, but showed “no signs of improvement”.

The dad sadly died on July 29 having remained in a coma.

He was found to have suffered a cardiac arrest and a hypoxic brain injury.

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A post mortem revealed he also had a heart disease, which meant he was “susceptible” to a potentially fatal attack.

But, Miss Labaki said: “The pathologists conclude Mr Derrick's ejection of Conaghan was a significantly stressful event and, because of the underlying heart disease, there is a clear link between the incident and the cardiac arrest.”

The hearing was told Peter left behind family including behind two children and his wife, who now runs the pub.

Conaghan – who is partially deaf - was found near the bar that day. 

He was initially held for assault and claimed: “I want my lawyer. I don't remember it at all.”

The court was told Conaghan suffers from a disorder that affects his “thinking and cognitive function”, but that he is “responsible for his actions”.

The culpable homicide charge stated he “culpably and recklessly” behaved in an “aggressive and threatening manner”.

It also includes Conaghan struggled with Peter, attempted to hit him as well as repeatedly banging and pushing on the door of the pub.

Margaret Breslin, defending, said he wished to “express his genuine sorrow” for the killing.

Conaghan faced other charges including a claim he behaved in a threatening and abusive manner on the same day at the nearby Old Toll Bar.

This allegation was aggravated by religious and sexual orientation prejudice.

Prosecutors accepted his not guilty pleas to those accusations.

Lord Burns remanded Conaghan in custody pending sentencing on February 28 in Edinburgh.

Peter's daughter and family were too upset to comment after the hearing.

Following the tragedy, Robyn had started a fundraising drive to install life-saving defibrillators from the Viceroy Bar to Rangers Ibrox Stadium.

She said at the time: “I want to focus on helping other families. Our family want to give others a chance.

“A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone. Every moment is precious. One minute or five minutes. It makes a difference.”