A MAN has claimed he and his elderly mother were assaulted by his brothers at a family funeral.

Michael Burns, 56, stated that he and Margaret Burns, 92, were attacked by Gerald Burns, 59, and Hugh Burns, 63, at Daldowie Crematorium in South Lanarkshire, on May 23 2022.

The siblings and their mother attended their other brother John Burns' funeral that day amid a family dispute.

Court papers state that Gerald and Hugh seized Margaret on the body to her injury.

Co-accused brother James Burns, 64, is claimed to have assaulted Michael by kicking him on the body to his injury at the same time and place.

James faces a separate charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

It is claimed he repeatedly adopted an aggressive demeanour and uttered homophobic remarks.

Gerald and Hugh are also accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

They are claimed to have repeatedly shouted, swore and adopted an aggressive demeanour as well as uttered threats of violence.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that Margaret was recovering from a stroke and required the use of a wheelchair.

Margaret lived with Michael and his partner Steven Whiteside for six years at their home in Bothwell, Lanarkshire.

John's funeral was attended by 130 to 150 people, however, Michael claimed Margaret had to be convinced to attend 30 minutes before it started.

The witness stated that Margaret told him at the end of the service that she wanted to "get the hell out of here."

Michael claimed that he and Steven took Margaret out a side exit which had a ramp for wheelchairs.

Michael stated that he and Steven were in the process of putting Margaret in the front seat of their car when Hugh "marched" towards them with a serious face on him.

The witness claimed that Hugh had been abusive to him on a call and refused to see their mum after John had passed away.

Michael said: "He wanted my mum to go to his house but my mum hates his wife and would not do that at all."

The witness claimed that Hugh's actions made him feel "nervous and frightened."

Michael added: "He pulled her [Margaret] by her coat and was shouting 'they have kidnapped you, they are not letting us see you'."

The witness added that his mum was also elbowed in the face by Hugh.

He stated that Hugh also threatened to "f***ing do" him in.

Michael claimed Gerald then ran up to the car where he allegedly grabbed Stephen by the chest and dug in his nails.

He added: "My mum was kicking Gerald to get away from her - she was absolutely petrified."

Michael stated that he was also pushed out the road by Gerald who also was stated to have grabbed their mother's coat and hand.

The witness said: "Our main concern was to diffuse the situation for my mum because we knew we were going to get leathered.

"They were going to kill us that day."

Michael stated that his brother James then kicked him on the back of his leg.

James was later alleged to have told Margaret that she was an "absolute disgrace" which Michael claimed "disgusted" her.

The brothers’ sister May Anderson was also stated by Michael to have called Margaret an "old c***."

Michael claimed that he did not go to the afters at a pub which he had arranged and paid for.

Instead, the witness stated that he took Margaret home but was later joined by 50 relatives.

Eddie Robertson, defending, put it to Michael that his mum did want to go to the funeral which the witness refuted.

He also denied claims that he refused family from seeing Margaret but accepted wanting them to make an "appointment" to visit her as "they can't just wander into our house."

The lawyer later stated to Michael that the only two people to give statements to the police were him and Steven.

He said: "Yes, none of the cousins were asked."

The lawyer suggested that the police visited them seven days after the funeral which allowed them to get a "story together."

Michael said: "No."

Michael claimed that his mother received a black eye as well as bruises on her arms as a result of being grabbed.

Mr Robertson showed Michael a picture of Margaret the day after the funeral which the lawyer suggested showed no injuries.

Michael said: "It was make-up - Steven fixed her make-up."

Mr Robertson said: "There is nothing obviously wrong with her arms."

Michael said: "He has probably covered it with make-up and did a good job."

Gerald and James, both of Uddingston as well as Hugh of Viewpark, Lanarkshire, deny the charges against them.

The trial continues before Sheriff Allan McKay.