UK NEWS

LENNON IN STREET ATTACK

BEATEN: Neil Lennon was on his way home

Tuesday September 2,2008

By Julie-Anne Barnes

CELTIC coach Neil Lennon was beaten unconscious hours after watching his side lose the first Old Firm clash of the season.

The former Northern Ireland player was making his way home from a bar in Glasgow’s West End when he was attacked.

Lennon, 37, was part of Celtic’s backroom staff on Sunday afternoon when they lost 4-2 to Rangers.

He left the Ubiquitous Chip pub in Ashton Lane just after midnight. Following the attack he was treated in hospital for cuts and bruises. Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

A Celtic FC spokesman said: “We can confirm that while walking home alone Neil Lennon was the victim of a serious assault by two men.

“It came after Neil was subjected to sectarian abuse. It is understood that during the course of the attack Neil lost consciousness. He was then taken by ambulance to hospital where his injuries were treated.”

A colleague of Lennon’s said: “Neil is defiant and won’t give in to this kind of violence.”

In 2003, Lennon, then a Celtic player, was attacked in Glasgow. He was butted and his then girlfriend pushed to the ground. Two men were also convicted of assaulting Lennon as he drove home after a Celtic v Motherwell match.

Death threats by Loyalists in Northern Ireland led Lennon to quit playing for his country in 2002.

Last night one witness said the Hoops coach had been drinking heavily with friends before Sunday’s attack, which he said came from “a couple of grandads”.

The witness said: “Lennon squared up to the pair and one of them punched him.”

Strathclyde Police said they were searching for two men in their 40s.

One was of heavy build wearing a light blue shirt and a black leather jacket. The second wore a light coloured shirt.

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: “Police were called at 12.25am to a report of a 37-year-old man assaulted in Ashton Lane.

“The injured man was taken to hospital then released after treatment for minor injuries.”

• Police are probing claims Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc gestured to Rangers fans near the end of the game. A spokesman said: “We are looking into the incident.”