Fan faces jail for picture of ‘bullet-riddled’ Neil Lennon on Facebook

A MAN faces jail after he posted a picture of Neil Lennon covered in bullet wounds on a social networking site.

David Craig, 24, also posted offensive messages about the Celtic manager as well as Rangers slogans and other abusive comments on his Facebook page in March last year. Comments by other people had been posted in response to the image.

Messages left by Craig on his page included abusive sectarian language and he called for Lennon to be “hanged”.

Craig, of Paisley, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm by posting messages and an image which were of an offensive, threatening and sectarian nature on a social networking site.

The court was told that on the evening Wednesday 2 March 2011, there was a Celtic versus Rangers match at Celtic Park.

Prosecutor Mark Allan told the court that the match took place in “even by the standards of this game, a particularly volatile atmosphere” and said that in the aftermath there developed an “escalating climate of violence, community disorder and sectarian hostility”.

It was heard that, following intelligence, police investigated the Facebook site created by Craig, on 14 March, 2011.

Access to the page was freely available to the public with no security restrictions which allowed full access and viewing of material contained on the account.

The court was shown a photograph Craig had copied on to his Facebook page, of Neil Lennon wearing a Celtic top and with several bullet wounds on his torso and one on the centre of his head.

On the front of his body were the words “Dead man walking” and underneath was a caption reading “Neil Lennon dead man!!!!!! UVF!”.

Mr Allan said: “The image prompted responses from others which can be seen on the same production below it.”

They read “Aw that’s going to happen” and “Aw how I would love to be the one to pull the trigger”.

The image was posted the day after the football match.

The court was told that postings by the accused and others included a series of abusive exchanges containing sectarian abuse infused with Northern Irish political phrases and Rangers slogans.

Craig was later detained and after an interview cautioned and charged.

He told police he had to apologise and that he has friends and family who are Celtic fans and was having “banter”.

Sheriff Martin Jones, QC, deferred sentencing until next month and released Craig on bail. Defence advocate Duncan McPhie will give his plea in mitigation then.

Speaking following yesterday’s hearing Barry Dickson, football liaison prosecutor for the West of Scotland, said: “The vast majority of football supporters in Scotland are dedicated and enthusiastic and find behaviour such as this abhorrent and totally unacceptable.

“We are absolutely committed to the investigation and prosecution of those either involved in or promoting sectarianism, religious offences and related disorder and violence. Such activity blights the good name of Scottish football.”