A wife spoke of her relief yesterday after her husband was convicted of abusing her when she caught him having sex with another woman in a Salvation Army office.
Sara Murphy walked in on husband Brian Murphy naked with colleague Eileen McCann at the Christian charity site where they both worked.
Brian, 53, turned nasty when Sara, 49, saw the pair's tryst in Greenock, Inverclyde, on August 10 last year.
Murphy, who works as a branch manager with charity the Salvation Army and is a Watch Commander with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, admitted shouting and swearing at his wife of 25 years.
At Greenock Sheriff Court, he asked for an absolute discharge, which sees an offender go unpunished and receive no criminal record despite a guilty plea, because he faced losing both his jobs.
But Sheriff Sheena Fraser said he had been guilty of behaving in a threatening and abusive way.
She ordered him to pay a £450 fine, reduced from £500 as he admitted his guilt, and made him the subject of a three-year Non-Harassment Order.
The NHO sees him banned from approaching or contacting Sara, and entering her street, for three years.
Speaking afterwards, Sara said: "It's all I wanted. I’m happy. Justice has been served.
"I was petrified it was going to be an absolute discharge. That would have been absolutely ridiculous.
"Anyone who's been through abuse like I've been wouldn't take their partner to court if they knew that was possible.
"I didn't even know it existed. I had years of emotional abuse.
"I feel this is the first thing that's gone right for me.
"He's a narcissist and thinks he's infallible.
"He's made my life hell."
As she convicted Murphy, Sheriff Fraser said: "The behaviour you displayed on August 10 was appalling.
"You were shouting and swearing at your wife at your place of work and that continued outside into the street."
When Murphy admitted his guilt at an earlier hearing, prosecutor Andrew Brown said: "She (Sara) believed the accused was having an affair.
"At this time she observed the accused, Mr Murphy, naked, along with his co-worker, engaged in sexual intercourse.
"Mrs Murphy cried out and fell to the ground in grief.
"At this the accused stood up, pulled on his trousers and began to shout and swear at Mrs Murphy, 'get the f*** out of here' on numerous occasions.
"The accused then squared up close to Mrs Murphy and shouted, 'get the f*** out'."
A Salvation Army spokesperson said: "We are aware of the outcome of today's court proceedings and are dealing with this matter in accordance with our policies and procedures."
Area Commander David McCarrey is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's Local Senior Officer for East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.
He said: "We are aware that Brian Murphy tendered a plea of guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Greenock Sheriff Court and today, March 1, he has subsequently received a three-year Non-Harassment Order and fined.
"The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service expects the very highest standards of all its employees.
"This matter is already subject to our internal disciplinary policies and procedures and our investigations will continue."
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