Man jailed for carrying 11-inch sword after Celtic-Hearts match
34-year-old James McGreevy, from Pollok, took to the streets outside Tynecastle after the game last year
Last updated 9th Jan 2018
A football fan has been jailed after he was caught with a gold-handled sword and an 8-and-a-half inch knife after a game between Celtic and Hearts.
34-year-old James Joseph McGreevy, from Pollok, took to the streets of Edinburgh on 2 April 2017 after hearing supporters leaving Tynecastle Park making sectarian remarks.
McGreevy had been watching the game on TV from a flat near the ground.
Armed with an 11-inch sword and an 8-and-a-half inch knife, he went back on to the street where police were alerted.
Officers found him standing in the road with the blades in the pockets of his jeans.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, McGreevy pleaded guilty to being in possession of the weapons.
Sheriff Norman McFadyen told him that having the knife was troubling in itself, but the possession of the sword made the situation even worse, especially as he had been under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Fiscal Depute Rachel Adey described McGreevy as having been unsteady on his feet, provoked by the fans and becoming very emotional.
Defence solicitor Jennifer Cameron said her client had mental health difficulties and drug addiction, and that his recollection of the incident was "rather vague".
The court was told that McGreevy was on medication and was not supposed to drink alcohol, but he thought he had taken two bottles of wine or cans of beer.
McGreevy was jailed for 15 months.