WHITECRAIG is now beginning the task of rebuilding its reputation as a safe and quiet community after a man was found guilty of the "despicable" murder of a pub landlord in the village.

But while key local figures believe the resilient community will bounce back quickly, the family of murdered Steven Curran, of Musselburgh, may never recover from their loss. At the High Court in Edinburgh last Friday, Lee McNamara was found guilty by a jury of murdering Mr Curran at The Dolphin Inn last October in a brutal attack that stunned residents and robbed a family of a "loving husband and proud father".

Residents and community leaders are hopeful McNamara's conviction will bring to a close what has been a shocking episode in the ex-mining village's history.

Superintendent Phil O'Kane, East Lothian area commander for Lothian and Borders Police, told the Courier: "Whitecraig is a fiercely proud community that is relatively crime-free and a safe place to live and bring up children.

"This was a terrible crime involving an individual who resorted to violence which resulted in the tragic death of Steven Curran. People in Whitecraig shouldn't have any concerns about the safety of their community." McNamara, of Whitecraig's Carberry Court, had attacked Mr Curran on October 20 at the Dolphin as he walked to his Toyota Celica after closing up for the evening.

The father-of-two was punched and kicked in the head before McNamara, 24, stole his car keys and got into the vehicle.

He reversed it over Mr Curran's body, dragging him underneath the car, then drove forward over him a second time.

The provisional licence holder then drove off and crashed on the A1, near Dunbar.

He fled, only to return later to the scene of the collision. By that time, officers had discovered the body of Mr Curran in the pub car park.

An ambulance was called but it was clear he was dead and no treatment was given. He died after sustaining chest injuries.

McNamara, who is now facing a life sentence, also admitted driving dangerously at excessive speed while under the influence of alcohol, while unsupervised and without insurance.

He has previous convictions for assault, malicious mischief and for driving without a licence and insurance.

Giving evidence during the trial, McNamara told the court that on the night of his death Mr Curran, who had been working behind the bar at the Dolphin, had been "annoying" him and "making him feel silly".

He also claimed he did not realise he had run Mr Curran over in the stolen car and "just assumed he had got up" after being assaulted.

When detectives told him Mr Curran was dead, the plasterer burst into tears and kept repeating the word "no".

He was heard to say: "This will destroy my family." Mr Curran's wife, Jill, with whom he had two daughters, Abbie, 14, and Lucy, six, witnessed CCTV footage of her husband's attack in court.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Curran's family following last week's verdict, she said: "I made a decision to watch the CCTV footage... because I had to know exactly what happened to him on the night he died.

"What I saw was a sickening and cowardly attack on an innocent man, and this will stay with me for the rest of my life.

"There are no words that can explain the devastating impact my husband's death has had on our family, and in particular our two daughters.

"They meant the world to Steve, and he worked so hard to give them a good life. As a family we loved going on holiday, and I have so many fantastic memories of the good times we all spent together.

"To me, Steve was always a larger-than-life character. He was well liked, and was always the centre of attention wherever he went.

"Most of all he was a loving husband and a proud father, as well as a much-loved son and brother. His spirit lives on in our two beautiful daughters, and he will be sorely missed by all of us." Regulars at the Dolphin say Mr Curran's death has tainted the reputation of the village pub and restaurant, and the number of customers visiting the venue has significantly diminished over the past nine months.

Clark Beveridge, a Whitecraig resident and regular at The Dolphin Inn, said he'd enjoyed many chats with Mr Curran - who had been landlord at the pub and restaurant for about five years - about their mutual love of Hearts FC.

"We used to chat a lot about the Jambos," said Clark. "Stevie was quite a famous Hearts supporter.

He used to travel all over Europe following them.

"Stevie could be a complicated character but I always got on fine with him. His two girls were really nice and his wife Jill was a lovely woman and always had a smile on her face.

"Lee McNamara was a regular and had been asked to leave the Dolphin a few times by Stevie.

I liked Stevie and he certainly didn't deserve what happened." Freda Miller, treasurer of Whitecraig Community Council, said: "I didn't know Steven very well, but when my brother died last year he did the food for us after the funeral (at the Dolphin).

"I couldn't have asked for a better spread and I was very grateful to Steven, he really put a great deal of effort in." Councillor John Caldwell, ward member for Musselburgh East and Carberry, said: "This was a shocking crime, particularly taking place in a small village like Whitecraig.

"I hope now the case has been dealt with in court and the person responsible found guilty, that Whitecraig can get back to normal and people will begin patronising The Dolphin Inn again, as it has always had a good reputation." Detective Inspector John Peaston, from Dalkeith CID, also welcomed McNamara's conviction.

He said: "This was a senseless and brutal attack on an innocent man which was motivated by no more than petty malice on the part of Lee McNamara.

"His actions have had a devastating impact on Mr Curran's family, and I would like to pay tribute to them for their courage." Stephen McGowan, district procurator fiscal for Edinburgh and Haddington, added: "This was a despicable act of violence against an innocent man as he left work. Lee McNamara lay in wait for Mr Curran then accosted him as he made his way to his car outside his pub.

"He claimed he did not realise Mr Curran was still on the ground when he reversed over him with his own car, but the jury have clearly rejected this claim." McNamara has been remanded in custody until he is sentenced on August 23 at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Lady Clark of Calton deferred sentence on McNamara for the preparation of a background report but said: "Obviously there is only one punishment available."