Celtic season ticket holder banned from Glasgow during matches after attack

A Celtic season ticket holder who attacked a man on the way to a game has been banned from Glasgow on matchdays.

Sean Connolly, 40, assaulted the man in the city’s Gallowgate on September 14 last year.

Celtic were due to play Hearts in a match they went on to win 2-0.

Fire safety officer Connolly was noted by witnesses to be swinging his arms around in an attempt to start a fight.

Prosecutor Jason Black told Glasgow Sheriff Court: “Connolly struck [the victim] to the hand with a glass bottle.

“He then punched him to the face and body.”

A member of the public attempted to intervene but Connolly continued to attack the man by pushing him onto the road.

This was seen by police officers who arrested Connolly who had travelled to the game from his home in Cumbria.

Connolly was taken into custody when, in response to being cautioned and charged, he said: “I fought my ground.”

The victim was noted to have an injury to his hand but refused medical treatment.

Connolly pleaded guilty to assaulting the man to his injury.

John Kilcoyne, defending, told sentencing that the dad-of-one has a “hazy recollection” of the incident.

The lawyer added: “He is deeply ashamed and disappointed in himself – he has shown remorse and regret.”

Sheriff Bernard Ablett ordered Connolly to do 176 hours of unpaid work and put him under supervision for nine months.

The sheriff also gave Connolly a football banning order as well as the restriction not to enter Greater Glasgow during Celtic home matches for a period of 18 months.

He said: “You should understand that this was a serious offence in that you assaulted your victim to his injury.

“A bottle was used in the assault and the nature of the offence has been reflected in my sentence.

“You have crossed the custodial threshold, but with your settled family background and having stayed out of trouble since 2012, I will impose a community disposal.”