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| 'Brutal' Lennon attackers jailed | 'Brutal' Lennon attackers jailed |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Two Rangers supporters have been jailed for two years each for attacking Celtic coach Neil Lennon hours after an Old Firm game. | Two Rangers supporters have been jailed for two years each for attacking Celtic coach Neil Lennon hours after an Old Firm game. |
| A jury at Glasgow Sheriff Court found David Whitelaw, 47, and 43-year-old Jeffrey Carrigan guilty of assault. | A jury at Glasgow Sheriff Court found David Whitelaw, 47, and 43-year-old Jeffrey Carrigan guilty of assault. |
| However, the pair were cleared of an allegation that the attack on 1 September last year was aggravated by religious prejudice. | However, the pair were cleared of an allegation that the attack on 1 September last year was aggravated by religious prejudice. |
| Sheriff Martin Jones said the attack was "vicious, brutal and cowardly". | Sheriff Martin Jones said the attack was "vicious, brutal and cowardly". |
| He added: "After being punched to the ground and lying defenceless, you repeatedly kicked the complainer about the head and body and at some point he was rendered unconscious. | He added: "After being punched to the ground and lying defenceless, you repeatedly kicked the complainer about the head and body and at some point he was rendered unconscious. |
| The complainer was indeed fortunate that he didn't receive more serious injuries Sheriff Martin Jonese | The complainer was indeed fortunate that he didn't receive more serious injuries Sheriff Martin Jonese |
| "You showed no concern for your victim and and no appreciation of the consequences of your actions. | "You showed no concern for your victim and and no appreciation of the consequences of your actions. |
| "The complainer was indeed fortunate that he didn't receive more serious injuries." | "The complainer was indeed fortunate that he didn't receive more serious injuries." |
| The attack took place in Ashton Lane in Glasgow's west end, hours after Rangers defeated Celtic 4-2 in the opening Old Firm game of the season. | The attack took place in Ashton Lane in Glasgow's west end, hours after Rangers defeated Celtic 4-2 in the opening Old Firm game of the season. |
| Carrigan and Whitelaw, both from Knightswood in Glasgow, had told the court that they were Rangers fans. | Carrigan and Whitelaw, both from Knightswood in Glasgow, had told the court that they were Rangers fans. |
| The trial heard that Carrigan had asked Lennon: "Did you like the score today?" | The trial heard that Carrigan had asked Lennon: "Did you like the score today?" |
| A witness said that in reply, Lennon raised his middle finger at the men. | A witness said that in reply, Lennon raised his middle finger at the men. |
| READ THE RULING class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/16_01_09_lennon.pdf">HMA v David Whitelaw and Jeffrey Carrigan - sentencing statement [28KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here | |
| The pair had claimed that Lennon started the fight by pushing Carrigan and grabbing him by the throat, but witnesses said Whitelaw threw the first punch. | The pair had claimed that Lennon started the fight by pushing Carrigan and grabbing him by the throat, but witnesses said Whitelaw threw the first punch. |
| One witness said Whitelaw had been wearing a chain with a distinctive Rangers FC crest. | One witness said Whitelaw had been wearing a chain with a distinctive Rangers FC crest. |
| Lennon, who suffered cuts above his eye and lip, told the court that he could not remember anything about the attack. | Lennon, who suffered cuts above his eye and lip, told the court that he could not remember anything about the attack. |
| He said: "A friend of mine offered to walk me up the road but I said I would be fine as I only live three minutes away. | He said: "A friend of mine offered to walk me up the road but I said I would be fine as I only live three minutes away. |
| "The next thing I remember I was lying on the ground and somebody was dabbing my face asking if I was okay. | "The next thing I remember I was lying on the ground and somebody was dabbing my face asking if I was okay. |
| "My next recollection is waking up in hospital with my fiancee sitting at the end of the bed crying and my manager looking pretty concerned." | "My next recollection is waking up in hospital with my fiancee sitting at the end of the bed crying and my manager looking pretty concerned." |
| After the pair were convicted, the court heard that Whitelaw had 16 previous convictions and was jailed for six years in 1993 for drug offences. | After the pair were convicted, the court heard that Whitelaw had 16 previous convictions and was jailed for six years in 1993 for drug offences. |
| Carrigan, who had eight previous convictions, was jailed for five years in 2003 for drug dealing. | Carrigan, who had eight previous convictions, was jailed for five years in 2003 for drug dealing. |