Sectarian thugs beat Neil Lennon senseless hours after Old Firm match

THE former Celtic captain Neil Lennon was treated in hospital yesterday after he was assaulted hours after Sunday's Old Firm match.

It is understood that Lennon, who is now a coach with Celtic, was called a "f****n b*****d" during an incident in which he was attacked and knocked unconscious by two middle-aged men.

Friends said that it showed any claims that Scotland was making progress in tackling sectarianism were wrong.

It is understood that Lennon had gone to a local bar, Jinty McGinty's, in the city's fashionable Ashton Lane, close to his home in the West End of Glasgow.

The 37-year-old left by himself just after midnight, having turned down offers from friends to accompany him back to his home barely 200 yards away.

Walking back along Ashton Lane, outside the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant, Lennon heard somebody behind him, shouting insults.

He was then hit on the head with an object of some sort, which knocked him to the ground. The men continued to attack him before running off.

The former player suffered a cut eye and was taken to the Western Infirmary for treatment.

Lennon, who is Catholic, is said to remember little detail about the attack.

The incident came hours after he was in the Celtic dugout during his club's 4-2 home defeat to Rangers.

A family friend condemned the attack as "bigots at work". The friend said: "All his friends and family are appalled at yet another attack of a sectarian nature. Those who will say that they are winning the battle against sectarianism are very wrong.

"There will be those who say that it all comes down to the fact that he was a combative footballer but he's no longer a player. This is clearly bigots at work; surely everybody has the right to go about their lawful business on the streets of Glasgow."

Celtic later confirmed that Lennon had been subjected to sectarian abuse.

A spokeswoman for the anti-sectarian organisation Nil By Mouth said that the incident showed work needed to be done to tackle the issue.

She said: "Many of us continue to experience many forms of sectarian abuse or violence, whether physical or verbal in our everyday lives, in our schools, workplaces or local pubs – not to mention our streets and football terraces.

"It is particularly sad that at a time when we are celebrating Scottish sporting achievement in the Olympics, we are still hearing of sectarian abuse associated with sport.

"It shows that there is a continued need for anti-sectarian work to be carried out at all levels of society by anti-sectarian organisations. Scotland's success in tackling sectarianism depends on how prepared we are to engage with – rather than shun – the issue."

Strathclyde Police said that their inquires into the incident were ongoing but could not comment on whether or not they were treating it as a sectarian incident.

They issued a description of two suspects: the first is described as white, 40 to 50 years of age and of heavy build. He was wearing a light-blue shirt and a black leather jacket.

The second suspect is described as white and 40 to 50 years of age. He was wearing a light-coloured shirt.

BACKGROUND

THIS is not the first time that Neil Lennon has been the target of attacks.

In September 2003, two students were fined after an assault on him in Glasgow.

In another incident, vandals daubed graffiti outside his home in Glasgow in May 2004.

In 2003, he vowed he would never play for his country again because of a reported death threat. Although Loyalist paramilitaries insisted the warning was bogus, Lennon said he was not prepared to suffer any more sectarian victimisation, after previously being booed by fans.