'Old enough to know better'...mass brawl broke out as row between feuding neighbours boiled over

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A mass brawl broke out in the lobby of a block of flats after a row between feuding neighbours exploded. There was ongoing, unexplained animosity between Gary McGann and another man who lived in a neighbouring high rise tower in Ashton-under-Lyne.

When the pair met in one of the blocks, their argument soon descended into a fight involving weapons. McGann, 54, admitted he 'lost it'. During the ugly incident, which lasted for about 20 minutes, McGann and the other man began brawling. At one point McGann could be seen armed with a spanner.

McGann and the other man ended up on the floor of the lobby within the tower block. Shortly after, Kieron Ankers, 24, and Mickie Wilson, 22, arrived at the door of the lobby, both armed with knives.

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They forced their way in and a mass brawl involving the four men and others ensued, with McGann beginning to punch his neighbour. The neighbour then left and went back to his flat, while McGann left with Ankers and Wilson.

But the incident resumed later, when the neighbour went to the area below a first floor balcony where Ankers and Wilson had been. Police were called by CCTV security operators who saw the disgraceful incident unfold.

Prosecutors said there was no evidence that the knives were used. McGann, Ankers and Wilson were arrested. McGann said he was visiting a friend prior to the incident, and that the man had attacked him.

He admitted he 'lost it' and punched him in the head several times. The neighbour and other men present at the scene, in the early hours of January 14 last year, have not been charged, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Defending McGann, Mark Fireman