Lennon assailant cleared.

***Spike Mandela*** · 31-08-2011 04:12 PM

Numpty who attacked Neil Lennon has been CLEARED of assault. WTF!

***Mikey*** · 31-08-2011 04:18 PM

Jings!

Open season for the Tynecastle numpties!

***Bayern Bru*** · 31-08-2011 04:21 PM

Well to be fair, he was tackled to the ground before he got near Lennon.

***Golden Bear*** · 31-08-2011 04:24 PM

Not proven verdict on the religious hatred charge but hopefully he'll still get done on the assault charge.

***.Sean.*** · 31-08-2011 04:26 PM

It's all part of the big, fat, Anti-Sellick conspiracy

***Bayern Bru*** · 31-08-2011 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by Golden Bear

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Not proven verdict on the religious hatred charge but hopefully he'll still get done on the assault charge.

I am by no means intending to start a 12 pager on the ins and outs of religious hatred but if we're being accurate...Fenian, although associated with sectarian abuse and mentioned in a certain Rangers song, isn't strictly a sectarian term of abuse. I wonder if this was the defence.

***greenlex*** · 31-08-2011 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by Leitrim Hibee

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I am by no means intending to start a 12 pager on the ins and outs of religious hatred but if we're being accurate...Fenian, although associated with sectarian abuse and mentioned in a certain Rangers song, isn't strictly a sectarian term of abuse. I wonder if this was the defence.

Was Donald Finlay defending him? He would certainly argue that.

**~~The_Famous_HFC~~** · 31-08-2011 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Leitrim Hibee

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I am by no means intending to start a 12 pager on the ins and outs of religious hatred but if we're being accurate...Fenian, although associated with sectarian abuse and mentioned in a certain Rangers song, isn't strictly a sectarian term of abuse. I wonder if this was the defence.

I think the defence may have been more along the lines of the fact there was no evidence to suggest he said anything about religion and instead went to clobber him for being a fud. Not that I'm condoning his actions.

***Bayern Bru*** · 31-08-2011 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by greenlex

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Was Donald Finlay defending him? He would certainly argue that.

Originally Posted by The_Famous_HFC

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I think the defence may have been more along the lines of the fact there was no evidence to suggest he said anything about religion and instead went to clobber him for being a fud. Not that I'm condoning his actions.

This is very true. I'm surprised he wasn't done for assault, but then again I suppose there is a conspiracy against Celtc so it's perhaps understandable.

Suspect you may be right though.

**hibiedude** · 31-08-2011 04:59 PM

It appears smacking Neil Lennon is not a criminal offence

**iwasthere1972** · 31-08-2011 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Golden Bear

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Not proven verdict on the religious hatred charge but hopefully he'll still get done on the assault charge.

Or for his dress sense. A life sentence with no chance of parole sounds about right.

***Bostonhibby*** · 31-08-2011 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by iwasthere1972

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Or for his dress sense. A life sentence with no chance of parole sounds about right.

Drunk in charge of a pair of counterfeit trackies and a chav hat is a far more serious offence, repatriation west of Govan seems to be the only sentence.

**Lofarl** · 31-08-2011 05:21 PM

The poor wee Jambo has suffered enough IMO. Imagine having Lennon and his big yellow teeth breathing right on ye.

**Dinkydoo** · 31-08-2011 05:26 PM

The charge was religiously aggravated assault - or something similar - and the prosecution couldn't prove that the "attack" was fuelled by bigotry.

However, he shouldn't have went for him - no matter how much he dislikes the guy - and deserves to be punished for it.

Pretty stupid to charge him on religious grounds IMO.

**NYHibby** · 31-08-2011 05:38 PM

Why has STV censored his face out in this video? Everyone else is running his picture today.
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/268432-h...n-neil-lennon/

***Bayern Bru*** · 31-08-2011 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by NYHibby

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Why has STV censored his face out in this video? Everyone else is running his picture today.
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/268432-h...n-neil-lennon/

Have you seen his picture before?

***CropleyWasGod*** · 31-08-2011 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by NYHibby

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Why has STV censored his face out in this video? Everyone else is running his picture today.
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/268432-h...n-neil-lennon/

Probably because he wasn't found guilty of the main charge.

The question might be "why did other media show his face, when he was only convicted of a breach of the peace?"

**HNA6** · 31-08-2011 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by NYHibby

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Why has STV censored his face out in this video? Everyone else is running his picture today.
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/268432-h...n-neil-lennon/

Cos its tea time ..

**~~clerriehibs~~** · 31-08-2011 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Dinkydoo

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The charge was religiously aggravated assault - or something similar - and the prosecution couldn't prove that the "attack" was fuelled by bigotry.

However, he shouldn't have went for him - no matter how much he dislikes the guy - and deserves to be punished for it.

Pretty stupid to charge him on religious grounds IMO.

Assaulting Neil Lennon isn't a "religiously aggravated" crime in itself. I'd have hoped that the PF and the police would have thought they had sufficient evidence for this charge, rather than thinking "we'll get him no bother on whatever we want, because it was on the telly".

Whatever the PF and the police thought they could nail him for, the jury thought differently.

You'd also have to hope the jury were entirely neutral on the issue of Neil Lennon, the man. But that's probably unlikely in Scotland, because most people who have heard of him, can't stand him. And that's not a religiously aggravated opinion.

The guy obviously deserved to get hammered for this - but it's not his fault the charges were over-done.

**Killiehibbie** · 31-08-2011 07:46 PM

Somebody thought he'd make a name for himself getting a high profile case proven on the religious aspect rather than getting him on what was obvious to anyone watching the telly.

***Kaiser1962*** · 31-08-2011 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by clerriehibs

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Assaulting Neil Lennon isn't a "religiously aggravated" crime in itself. I'd have hoped that the PF and the police would have thought they had sufficient evidence for this charge, rather than thinking "we'll get him no bother on whatever we want, because it was on the telly".

Whatever the PF and the police thought they could nail him for, the jury thought differently.

You'd also have to hope the jury were entirely neutral on the issue of Neil Lennon, the man. But that's probably unlikely in Scotland, because most people who have heard of him, can't stand him. And that's not a religiously aggravated opinion.

The guy obviously deserved to get hammered for this - but it's not his fault the charges were over-done.

It would appear that only one person heard the use of the word "fenian" and the Yam denied it. Stupid to go for the religious angle when the muppet was going to plead guilty to assault in the first place.

However its upset both Celtic and Hearts so every cloud and all that.

***Hibs Class*** · 31-08-2011 07:56 PM

Celtic have put a statement abut the verdict on their website:
CELTIC Football Club have released the following statement regarding the verdict at today's court case in Edinburgh.

"It is for the Jury to decide on this case, however, we find the accused's acquittal of the charge of assault difficult to comprehend bearing in mind our knowledge of the incident.

"One thing is clear - this was a disgraceful incident involving Neil Lennon, seen by the world - the sort of incident which should not have happened in any football stadium and one which embarrassed Scottish football.

"Regardless of the verdict reached, we hope that people will learn from the events of last season and realise these cannot be repeated.

“As always we will give Neil Lennon our full support and hope that this season he can be given the opportunity to be allowed to do his job without the kind of threats, attacks and intimidation which have marred much of his time in Scotland."

***CropleyWasGod*** · 31-08-2011 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by Hibs Class

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Celtic have put a statement abut the verdict on their website:
CELTIC Football Club have released the following statement regarding the verdict at today's court case in Edinburgh.

"It is for the Jury to decide on this case, however, we find the accused's acquittal of the charge of assault difficult to comprehend bearing in mind our knowledge of the incident.

"One thing is clear - this was a disgraceful incident involving Neil Lennon, seen by the world - the sort of incident which should not have happened in any football stadium and one which embarrassed Scottish football.

"Regardless of the verdict reached, we hope that people will learn from the events of last season and realise these cannot be repeated.

“As always we will give Neil Lennon our full support and hope that this season he can be given the opportunity to be allowed to do his job without the kind of threats, attacks and intimidation which have marred much of his time in Scotland."

Do they realise he wasn't acquitted?

And....given their "knowledge of the incident".... shouldn't they have made this "knowledge" available to the Court?

**~~Hibernia Na Eir~~** · 31-08-2011 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by Kaiser1962

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It would appear that only one person heard the use of the word "fenian" and the Yam denied it. Stupid to go for the religious angle when the muppet was going to plead guilty to assault in the first place. However its upset both Celtic and Hearts so every cloud and all that.

his brief said he called NL a Fenian W.the security bloke said he heard him call him a Fenian B.The word Fenian may not be termed sectarian on its own but when cojoined with the word "B" aftet it then it becomes wholly different. But nor judge nor jury thought that anyway.Guess you can decided what you want if you are a judge!

***CropleyWasGod*** · 31-08-2011 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by Hibernia Na Eir

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his brief said he called NL a Fenian W.the security bloke said he heard him call him a Fenian B.The word Fenian may not be termed sectarian on its own but when cojoined with the word "B" aftet it then it becomes wholly different. But nor judge nor jury thought that anyway.Guess you can decided what you want if you are a judge!

No, the reports I read said the phrase was "F..king w..k.r"

***Hibs Class*** · 31-08-2011 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod

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Do they realise he wasn't acquitted?

And....given their "knowledge of the incident".... shouldn't they have made this "knowledge" available to the Court?

I thought he was acquitted of aggravated assault (assuming a not proven is effectively an acquittal) and convicted of breach of the peace? Didn't think he was charged with "standard" non-aggravated assault.

***Kaiser1962*** · 31-08-2011 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by Hibernia Na Eir

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his brief said he called NL a Fenian W.the security bloke said he heard him call him a Fenian B.The word Fenian may not be termed sectarian on its own but when cojoined with the word "B" aftet it then it becomes wholly different. But nor judge nor jury thought that anyway.Guess you can decided what you want if you are a judge!

That'll upset the soapdodgers even more then

***CropleyWasGod*** · 31-08-2011 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by Hibs Class

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I thought he was acquitted of aggravated assault (assuming a not proven is effectively an acquittal) and convicted of breach of the peace? Didn't think he was charged with "standard" non-aggravated assault.

Not proven is not the same as not guilty.

Not proven is effectively "we think you did it, but we don't have the proof".

So, no, he wasn't acquitted, on either charge.

***Hibs Class*** · 31-08-2011 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod

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Not proven is not the same as not guilty.

Not proven is effectively "we think you did it, but we don't have the proof".

So, no, he wasn't acquitted, on either charge.

I agree with your first two paragraphs. Strictly speaking, though, I think the verdict is regarded as an acquittal, albeit the accused carries a greater stigma than with a not guilty verdict. That view seems to be supported by this paper from the House of Commons library.

www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN02710.pdf

**madabouthibs** · 31-08-2011 08:50 PM

I always thought a Not proven verdict in Scotland mean't he could be re-tried for the same offence at a later date?
I think his defence was that he said "fu**ing wa**er" and not Fenian Bas***d. Only one Yam steward said he heard the fenian phrase.
He's still to be sentenced on the Breach charge, which could be quite severe I'd imagine given the circumstances.

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