Of one evening in May 1957 Gallacher's son, Hughie junior, later said in a press interview, "He'd had a drink on that night when the trouble started. Up until then he had never laid a finger on Matt, despite the fact that he could be really cheeky. But on this particular night Matt had gone over the top and dad had reacted. He had picked up an ashtray and threw it across the room, maybe in a fit of temper, I'm sure only to frighten the lad. But it hit Matt on the side of the head and drew blood. Basically this had been a domestic situation that had got a little out of hand and it should have been left at that. But a neighbour who had come on the scene asked if she should get the police and, without thinking, I said yes. If I'd only given myself a minute to think I wouldn't have said it. Yes, I was upset, but I obviously wasn't prepared for the consequences."