Fan Violence: Two Injured

A Celtic fan was hospitalised last night after he was stabbed during clashes between Old Firm fans outside Parkhead. A group of Rangers fans descended on the stadium shortly after the final whistle to taunt their rivals over losing the SPL title. Allegedly, several dozen Celtic fans are reported to have charged and hurled bottles before one of them was stabbed.

Last night, one witness said, “Nine or ten police vans screamed past and there must have been about 70 cops at the scene. The word is a gang of Rangers fans headed to Parkhead to noise up their rivals. It all kicked off from there.”

The Rangers fans were allegedly aiming verbal abuse at Celtic supporters as they made their way to coaches in the wake of their 0-0 draw with Hearts. Trouble then flared before the Rangers gang fled. Police later searched bushes close to the spot where the Celts fan was attacked.

Cops say a 37-year-old man was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police last night said, “A 24-year-old male is detained in police custody.”

Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, a 49-year-old man has been killed after violence broke out in Coleraine following the aftermath of the matches involving Celtic and Rangers. Kevin Brendan McDaid died on Sunday night after he was attacked in the Somerset Drive area.

The deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, said a “ sizable group of loyalists” were responsible for the killing and an earlier assault.

“They decided it was a good idea to attack a Catholic area,” he said. “I’m absolutely dismayed at this and I think at this very, very important time, it’s important that people in the community identify those responsible and co-operate with the police to bring those murderers to justice.”

The police have said they are treating an earlier assault, on a 46-year-old man in Pates Lane, as attempted murder. The man is in a critical condition in hospital.

The East Londonderry MP, Gregory Campbell, also condemned the murder. “There has to be total condemnation of this killing as we would do for all other killings, no matter when or where they occurred or who the victims were,” he said. “There ought to be the fullest possible co-operation between everyone in the area and the police in order to bring those responsible to justice.”

SDLP assembly member John Dallat said he knew Mr McDaid’s family well. “This man was doing nothing more than going down to check on his sons and lost his life when this lynching mob from a different part of the town came along and rendered their form of justice. It’s certainly lawlessness and it needs to addressed. The immediate emphasis should be on an inquiry. It must be thorough, it must be detailed, and we mustn’t be discussing it years into the future,” said Mr Dallat.

This is footage of a clash between Celtic and Rangers fans at a Glasgow train station. Forgive us for the commentary in the video.