Family blames pensioner's pub death on smoking ban

SCOTLAND's smoking ban was blamed yesterday for the death of a pensioner who fell and hit his head on a bar as he made his way outside to smoke a cigar.

Jim Donachie, 85, from Dundee, had been forced to leave the Boars Rock pub on Tuesday to have a cigar because of the smoking ban.

As he walked across the lounge, he fell forward, hitting his head on the bar top and falling to the ground.

An ambulance was called and Mr Donachie was taken to Ninewells Hospital, but later died.

The pensioner's son, Stewart, said he was angry his father had been forced outside. He said: "During the day, I'd always gone outside with him to have his smoke and make sure he was OK.

"I didn't see him getting up that one time, and he fell and cracked his head against the bar. He died of a brain haemorrhage.

"I believe if the ban hadn't come in, he would have been sitting at the table and he would have still been here today."