Former Aberdeen depute provost Alan Donnelly has gone on trial accused of sexually assaulting a man working at a function.
Alan Donnelly, 65, appeared in the dock yesterday following allegations he inappropriately touched and kissed a man at an event in November last year.
His alleged victim, who gave evidence at the city’s sheriff court from behind a screen, said the incident had left him “mentally disturbed”.
The man claims the councillor, who denies the charge, made unwanted advances towards him on two occasions while he was working at the event.
The witness told the court: “He said to me ‘you’re too good-looking to be working here’.”
Former Aberdeen depute provost goes on trial over sexual assault allegation
The man told fiscal depute Lynne Macvicor that Donnelly, who at the time was depute lord provost, complimented the man’s “nice hair” before running his fingers through it and touching his beard.
The man said he returned to the kitchen carrying plates and cutlery, before continuing working.
He told the court that Donnelly then approached him for a second time, saying “Oh, it’s you again” and standing “really close”.
Ms Macvicor asked the man: “How close is ‘really close’?”
The man replied: “To the point I stepped back and dropped some cutlery.”
It is alleged Donnelly then touched the man’s hand and face before kissing him on either cheek.
The court was then shown a business card the councillor allegedly handed the man at this time.
The witness said: “He asked me to contact him on his personal number.
“While he was giving the card to me, he used that to his own advantage by getting closer to my face and kissing me on both cheeks.”
The man said he had thoughts “rushing” through his head and felt “really sick” after the alleged incident.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter
Donnelly’s solicitor David Sutherland suggested that the man had not been working on the night in question and had instead had contact with the councillor at an event the following week.
He also argued that the man’s claims had been fabricated.
Both were denied by the witness.
He also told Mr Sutherland that he did not accept Donnelly’s card willingly and was worried that speaking out could cause him to lose his job.
“I was in a situation I wanted to get away from,” he said.
“I didn’t approach the card, he put it into my hand.”
Due to a lack of an interpreter needed for an upcoming witness, the trial was adjourned until a later date.
Donnelly, of Deemount Gardens in Aberdeen, will appear before Sheriff Andrew Miller again in late October.
