Eight men in court over paramilitary images displayed at Celtic Park

Eight Celtic fans are to stand trial for allegedly wearing shirts with paramilitary images.

Martin Gardner, 49, John Forbes, 31, Anthony Kerr, 33, Asjad Siraj, 29, Paul Townsend, 26, Paul Quigley, 26, Ryan Gallagher, 28, and Stefan Morris, 24, appeared in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

They are all accused of offences contrary to the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act on July 19, this year at Celtic Park.

All eight allegedly wore shirts with an image which “displayed an image with a figure related to and in support of a proscribed terrorist organisation, namely the IRA”.

Quigley, from Cumbernauld, Gallagher from Glasgow and Morris from Ardrossan are also accused of displaying a banner with a paramilitary image.

The trio appeared in the court along with Townsend, from Cumbernauld on the same papers and were represented by Paul Kavanagh.

Gardner from Pollok, Forbes from East Kilbride, and Kerr and Siraj from Glasgow are represented by the same lawyer and appeared in the dock together.

All eight men denied the charges they face.

Sheriff Tony Kelly set a trial date for December and released the men on bail.