Celtic fan who punched police horses jailed for 10 months

A football thug who punched three police horses during a cup tie riot described by a police officer as “the worst he'd ever seen'”was today jailed for 10 months.

Celtic fan Kevin McGuire, 36, from Cardonald, Glasgow, who also assaulted police officers, was also banned from every football ground in the UK for five years.

McGuire claimed during his trial that he was an innocent bystander and in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court he continued to protest his innocence.

Police officers told of how they and their horses came under attack before kick-off in a Scottish Cup clash between Celtic and Airdrie in January last year.

Sheriff John McCormick told McGuire, who is a father-of-four: “You claimed you were an innocent member of the public, you were in fact one of the ringleaders of this mob and you assaulted police officers and their horses, and you did this while you were on bail.”

McGuire was found guilty of “causing unnecessary suffering” to police horses Nerston, Oban and Glasgow, assaulting two police officers and acting in a threatening and abusive manner.

Sergeant Mark Stewart, who was policing at the match with his horse Oban, told prosecutor Alistair Knox: “When I got there, Airdrie fans were being blocked from getting into the ground by Celtic fans.

“There were families trying to get in and bricks and missiles getting flung as well as spitting and throwing lit cigarettes.

“It was very aggressive and this was the worst I riot had ever seen.”

The officer told the court that McGuire was "directing others" during the violent incident and said he saw McGuire attack the three police horses outside the ground.

He added: “I asked him to move and he punched my horse Oban on the muzzle which caused him to react.

“It was a full blown punch and he also punched police horse Glasgow on the face.”

Sgt Stewart said another police horse Nerston was also punched later on.

Celtic fan McGuire, was described as a "prime mover" in the violence orchestrated against police.

Lawyer Michael McKeown, representing McGuire, unsuccessfully urged the sheriff not to jail his client.

Mr McKeown said: “He has got significant family responsibility. He is looking after his young baby and three other children.

“He works as an engineer and earns £600 a week. That employment is still open to him. He also has a business interest in a cafe.”

The court heard that McGuire told social workers who compiled a report on him that he was on 'an alcohol binge and had no memory of the offence.

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