Football fans appear in court over offences at match

THREE Linfield football fans appeared in court yesterday charged over trouble that flared at a cross-border cup match.

The game between the Belfast club and St Patrick’s Athletic in Dublin’s Inchicore was marred by ugly scenes before kick-off after scuffles broke out as stewards and gardaí searched supporters.

The trio, who appeared at Kilmainham District Court, were charged with a series of public order offences and freed on bail.

Robert Ervin, aged 38, from Glencairn Pass, Belfast, and 30-year-old William Rankin, from Alexander Park, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, were charged with being drunk and using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.

Stephen Smith, aged 35, from Carnhill Walk, Carrickfergus, faced three public order charges including using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and failing to comply with Garda orders.

The three were remanded on bail to reappear at the Kilmainham Court on May 14.

The minor disturbances, which left one Linfield supporter nursing a bloodied nose, broke out as several hundred fans made their way into the ground and gardaí carried out searches.

The three men had been removed from the football ground before kick-off and kept overnight in Garda custody after the minor scuffles broke out.

A fourth man, who was refused entry to the match and later arrested, had charges against him dismissed under the Probation Act.

The men had travelled to Dublin for the match with several hundred other Linfield fans.

A heavy security presence had been in place on the streets around Richmond Park amid fears groups not attending the match would attempt to spark violence among the fans.

The Garda operation was intensified at full time with the riot squad, dog handlers and mounted officers maintaining a cordon outside the Inchicore club blocking fans from mingling and ensuring buses packed with Linfield supporters left within minutes of the final whistle.

St Pat’s fans had been ordered by gardaí to stay in the ground for 10 minutes after full-time to limit the risk of further trouble.