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Neil Lennon gives evidence in trial of John Wilson | Neil Lennon gives evidence in trial of John Wilson |
(40 minutes later) | |
Neil Lennon has told a jury about the moment he was attacked during a game against Hearts at Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh in May. | Neil Lennon has told a jury about the moment he was attacked during a game against Hearts at Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh in May. |
The Celtic manager was giving evidence in the trial of 26-year-old John Wilson at the city's Sheriff Court. | The Celtic manager was giving evidence in the trial of 26-year-old John Wilson at the city's Sheriff Court. |
He described feeling a glancing blow on his head and seeing the accused sprawled on the ground in front of him. | He described feeling a glancing blow on his head and seeing the accused sprawled on the ground in front of him. |
John Wilson denies charges of assault and breach of the peace, both of which are aggravated by religious prejudice. | John Wilson denies charges of assault and breach of the peace, both of which are aggravated by religious prejudice. |
Mr Lennon told the court he felt the atmosphere had been "on edge" and felt "angry" after he was assaulted. | |
He told how it was a "huge game" in the season as Celtic were in the running to be the Champions in the Scottish Premier League. | |
He said: "I felt like a glancing blow to the corner above the left eye. | |
"It all happened very quickly, I went into a defence position to avoid the contact, whatever way he was off balance so he was lying in front of me on the ground. | |
"I was going to go for him because I wasn't sure what he had in his hand, it was a split second self defence mechanism. Thankfully it didn't come to that." | |
Principal fiscal depute Melanie Ward asked Mr Lennon if he had done anything to incite the attack and he replied: "No I was just doing my job as professional as I could be". | |
Ms Ward asked if he was able to concentrate on the match after and Mr Lennon said not really. | |
"I was just angry, after all the stuff that had happened to me previously that I couldn't do my job properly and it took the gloss off my team's performance because I knew the headlines would be about me again rather than the team and that really disappointed me," he said. | |
The jury, who were also shown video footage of the alleged incident, heard that Mr Lennon, who identified Wilson in court, has received threats against his life including bullets and a viable device in the post and has had to have 24-hour security at his home. | |
When asked how he felt about being attacked Mr Lennon said: "It was the tipping point for me, it was the last straw. | |
"I'm a football manager at the end of the day and this sort of thing is nothing to do with football and it brought embarrassment to Hearts and Scottish football in general." | |
'Worse atmosphere' | 'Worse atmosphere' |
The court also heard how Alan Thompson, 37, a professional football coach with Celtic grabbed Mr Lennon's attacker by his clothing and managed to put him off balance. | |
Mr Lennon said: "This came out of the blue, if it had not been for the intervention of Alan my personal safety could have been at risk." | |
Defence advocate David Nicolson told Mr Lennon he was not disputing the fact that Mr Wilson attacked him but that the case was about what, if anything, was said. | |
He asked Mr Lennon if he heard anything being said and he replied no and that the atmosphere had been noisy and he was pulled away quickly. | |
Earlier, the court heard from former police officer, James Church, 54, who is assistant to the head of safety, security and operations at Celtic Football Club. | |
He said the supporters were quite aggressive during the game on 11 May and unpleasant things were being shouted. | |
Mr Church told how Celtic scored two goals, one in the first half and one in the second half, and that the atmosphere had deteriorated. | Mr Church told how Celtic scored two goals, one in the first half and one in the second half, and that the atmosphere had deteriorated. |
He said: "The atmosphere was poisonous and I was getting quite concerned because we had scored a second goal and the crowd were angry." | He said: "The atmosphere was poisonous and I was getting quite concerned because we had scored a second goal and the crowd were angry." |
Mr Church described how he had been behind the dug out and behind Mr Lennon and other members of the management team including Alan Thompson. | Mr Church described how he had been behind the dug out and behind Mr Lennon and other members of the management team including Alan Thompson. |
Wilson is accused assaulting Mr Lennon and of breaching the peace by conducting himself in a disorderly manner, running onto the field during the match, running at the away team dug out, shouting, swearing, making a sectarian remark, all to the alarm and annoyance of others and causing further disturbance within the crowd there. | Wilson is accused assaulting Mr Lennon and of breaching the peace by conducting himself in a disorderly manner, running onto the field during the match, running at the away team dug out, shouting, swearing, making a sectarian remark, all to the alarm and annoyance of others and causing further disturbance within the crowd there. |
He denies all the allegations against him. | He denies all the allegations against him. |
The trial before Sheriff Fiona Reith QC continues. | The trial before Sheriff Fiona Reith QC continues. |