Two Rangers fans admit attack on Celtic fan which left victim with a brain injury

Two Rangers fans have admitted assaulting a Celtic supporter, leaving him with a brain injury. 27 year old Jordan Adam and Richard Love who is 26, attacked Paul Connolly, 47, aboard a train at Glasgow's Shettleston on February 2 2022.

The pair sang "Glasgow Celtic Paedophiles" at social worker Mr Connolly who told them to be quiet.

They then referred to Mr Connolly and his friends as "beasts, paedos and bead rattling b**s."

An argument took place between the trio which turned violent.

Adam later stamped on Mr Connolly's head which caused him to become unconscious.

He was later found to have suffered bleeding outside of the brain as well as a bruise to the brain.

Adam and Love pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting Mr Connolly to his severe injury, impairment, permanent disfigurement and danger of life.

The plant engineers, of Airdrie and Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, were remanded in custody pending background reports until they are sentenced next month.

Sheriff Tom Hughes said: "This is an appalling set of circumstances arising from a football match.

"Looking at you both, you are not stupid people who are involved in trouble to a great extent - you hold down good jobs.

"Here you are appearing at court facing very serious consequences as a result of what you did to someone else and for what? A football match?

"I hope the message is clear to other people that find themselves in a similar position to you that the courts will not tolerate mindless violence."

"You are lucky you are not at the High Court facing more serious charges than you are."

Celtic defeated Rangers 3-0 at Parkhead earlier that night.

Adam and Love boarded the train in Glasgow city centre under the influence of alcohol and were later joined by Mr Connolly, his partner Jaqueline Seery and her friend Pauline McGeough.

Love sang Rangers songs which prompted Mr Connolly and his friends to sing Celtic chants.

The court heard that the atmosphere "turned" when Love sang "Glasgow Celtic paedophiles" as well as "Big Jock Knew" while pointing at Mr Connolly and his friends.

Mr Connolly told him to "shut the f*** up" but Love and Adam referred to them as "Beasts, paedos and bead rattlers."

An argument took place between Mr Connolly and Love who initially was held back by Adam.

Matters progressed and Adam lunged forward and swung his arms towards Mr Connolly's head and body area.

The fiscal depute said: "Love punched Mr Connolly to the head and upper body before other passengers removed him."

The pair were separated before Mr Connolly and Miss Seery left the train at Easterhouse station.

The depute added: "Love ran towards the victim and he fell to the ground as he punched him repeatedly whilst being on the ground.

"As he was on the ground, Adam ran up and assisted Love as he ran and stamped on the head of Mr Connolly which caused him to become unconscious and sustained a cut to his forehead."

Love remained at the scene when police and medics arrived while Adam fled the scene.

The pair were later visited by police and arrested before being released.

Mr Connolly was taken to hospital meantime and treated for wounds to his head and nose which will leave a permanent scar.

He was given a CT scan which revealed bleeding around the outside of the brain and bruising to the brain.

Mr Connolly received follow up care from doctor Lucie Hermann who stated the victim suffers from low moods and inadequacy.

It is stated that Mr Connolly also suffers from anger, irritability issues as well as difficulty maintaining attention and concentration.

Mr Connolly has expressed a reluctance to visit places such as Celtic pubs and locations linked to Adam and Love.

Eddie Kelly, defending, told the court: "It is conceded this is a very serious matter and the custodial threshold has been met."

It was revealed that Adam's previous convictions are for road traffic offences while Love has an similar previous conviction at justice of the peace level.

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