Football fan on trial following bottle attack after an Old Firm game

A man’s told a jury that he was knocked unconscious following an alleged glass bottle attack after an Old Firm game.

43 year-old John Stillie said that two young males confronted him outside the Thornwood pub in Partick in March last year.

Mr Stillie, a cladder by trade, was hospitalised and required extensive treatment for an eye injury.

21 year-old Jack Fraser is on trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court charged with assaulting Mr Stillie to his severe injury and permanent impairment.

The offence is alleged to have been aggravated by religious prejudice.

The court heard Mr Stillie, a Rangers fan, watched Celtic’s 2-3 victory at Ibrox in the Thornwood pub with friends.

He claimed to have had in the region of six to 10 pints that day.

Mr Stillie told jurors that he went outside for “some fresh air” after the game had finished when two men walked by.

“They were mouthing off and I didn’t know if they had an argument with some one that was already outside.

“They were swearing saying fing this and fing that so I told them to f**k off.

“The two guys started running towards the pub and one went towards me with a bottle, so I tried to defend myself but he hit me just under my eye.”

Mr Stillie claimed he was knocked to the ground unconscious and didn’t come to until he was treated in the pub.

He was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital here he was found to have a fractured eye socket, bruising to the eye and needed four stitches in the wound to his eye. He was off work for a month.

Lawyer, David Nicholson, defending, asked Mr Stillie if he was part of a “six or seven person melee” outside the pub, he replied: “No.”

Mr Nicholson also asked if the men were laughing and joking about the game, and Mr Stillie again said no

Mr Nicholson lastly asked if Mr Stillie said: “Is that f***ing right then? Just you wait there” before going outside with his friends, he answered no again.

The trial continues before Sheriff John McCormick.