Former Celtic captain’s attackers jailed for 2 years

TWO men were jailed yesterday for a “vicious, brutal and cowardly” attack on former Celtic captain Neil Lennon.

A jury found Jeffrey Carrigan, 43, and David Whitelaw, 47, both of Knightswood in Glasgow, guilty of assaulting Lennon by a majority verdict at the city’s Sheriff Court.

Part of the charge, that the attack was aggravated by religious prejudice, was deleted.

Lennon, now a coach at the Glasgow club, needed hospital treatment after the attack in the early hours of September 1 last year in the city’s upmarket Ashton Lane.

Lennon, 37, had been out in the west end following his side’s defeat to Old Firm rivals Rangers.

Carrigan and Whitelaw, who told the court they were Rangers fans, did not deny getting into a fight with Lennon, but claimed he was the initial aggressor.

They alleged that the football coach started the fight after Carrigan asked him if he enjoyed the day’s game.

Jailing the men for two years each, Sheriff Martin Jones said: “You have been convicted of a vicious, brutal and cowardly attack on an innocent member of the public who was making his way home in the early hours of the morning.”

Describing the attack on Lennon, he said: “He was curled up, trying to protect himself and offering no resistance.

“The complainer was fortunate that he did not receive more serious injuries given the ferocity of the assault.”

The pair had denied assaulting Lennon.