Footballer brawl pair sentenced

22 August 2011 Last updated at 11:42 GMT Danny Swanson was attacked after leaving a restaurant on Glasgow's Queen Street A man who knocked a Dundee United player unconscious during a fight in Glasgow city centre has been given 240 hours community service.

John Friel punched Danny Swanson as he left a restaurant with two of his teammates after a night out in Glasgow in November 2010.

In the same incident, ex-Dundee Utd youth player Matthew Flynn headbutted the club's left back, Barry Douglas.

Flynn was given 190 hours of community service.

The pair had also admitted punching passer-by John Stuart, who stopped to help Mr Swanson as he lay motionless on the pavement.

They appeared for sentencing at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Alan MacKenzie told them: "This behaviour was fuelled by a large quantity of alcohol and, as one sees all too often, violence ensued.

"The offences to which you have tendered a plea of guilty are serious, particularly Mr Friel - your behaviour is totally unacceptable.

"By the force of a single blow you, John Friel, rendered one of your victims unconscious."

Mobile photograph

The court heard that Mr Swanson, Mr Douglas and former team mate David Goodwillie had been in Glasgow nightclub Karbon on 3 November and had met up with Scott Allan and Matthew Flynn, before going to a Japanese restaurant on Queen Street.

Procurator fiscal depute Bernard Ablett said: "The accused John Friel, who was not known to the Dundee United players, was also inside the restaurant.

"At one point Daniel Swanson attempted to take a photograph of Barry Douglas with another customer with his mobile phone, and John Friel put his hand up in front of the phone."

After eating their food, the Dundee United players left the restaurant just ahead of Flynn and Friel.

The court heard that only 19 seconds after leaving Flynn head-butted Mr Douglas then pushed him onto a parked car.

Mr Ablett said: "Danny Swanson's attention was distracted by this incident, and this allowed Friel to approach Swanson unnoticed from the side, and Friel then punched Swanson on the side of his head.

"Swanson immediately fell to the pavement, motionless for just under five minutes."

Mr Stuart was attacked by both Friel and Flynn after he tried to offer assistance to Mr Swanson, who was lying on the pavement, the court heard.

The court was told Swanson was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and suffered swelling and bruising.

Mr Stuart suffered a broken nose which had to be re-set and had scrapes and swelling to his face.

Bob McCormack, representing Friel, told the court that the picture they were trying to take of a customer was his client's friend, who suffers learning difficulties and was called a "mongo" by the footballers.

He said: "Mr Friel raised his hand to stop this episode going any further and the photograph from taking place."

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Speed claim over footballer crash

13 April 2011 Last updated at 13:45 GMT Gordon Lennon (right) with former Dumbarton manager Jim Chapman An off-road crash that killed footballer Gordon Lennon would not have been caused by a competent driver, a fatal accident inquiry has been told.

Dingwall Sheriff Court heard how police concluded that Fraser Hughes had been driving between 30 and 40mph when the 4x4 hit an electricity pole.

Mr Hughes later conceded he may have been travelling at up to 30mph and not the 15 to 20mph he had thought.

Mr Lennon was electrocuted in the crash at Brahan Estate in June 2009.

The 26-year-old, originally from Larne, County Antrim, died shortly after leading his team, Dumbarton FC, to promotion to Division Two.

He lived in Paisley and had a baby son with his partner, Kelly Dempsey.

'Competent driver'

The inquiry heard for a second day from Mr Hughes, 24, who was driving the 4x4 in which Mr Lennon was a passenger.

He had told the inquiry that he was driving at between 15 to 20mph on a downhill mud track at Brahan Estate, near Maryburgh, Ross-shire, when the crash happened.

But he was told Pc George MacAskill, of Northern Constabulary's road policing unit, had carried out an investigation and concluded Mr Hughes had been driving at between 30 to 40mph.

His report into the accident stated: "It is highly unlikely that control of the vehicle would have been lost by a competent driver at low speed."

When the statement was put to Mr Hughes, he replied: "I don't know how to reply or comment on that."

The car valeter from Inverness told the inquiry that he always drove on the track in a low-ratio gear selection in second gear.

But the police investigation discovered the wrecked vehicle was in a high-ratio setting.

The inquiry heard that in second gear, in low ratio, the maximum speed was 18.2mph, but 39.7mph in high setting.

Depute fiscal Ian Smith asked: "Do you accept you could be wrong to the extent that you could have been doing 30-40mph?"

Mr Hughes replied: "I accept you could travel down there at 30, but not 40."

Mr Smith asked: "You accept you could have been travelling at a higher speed of anything up to 30mph?"

Mr Hughes replied: "That could be the case."

The inquiry previously heard how Mr Lennon died after the vehicle crashed into an electricity pole.

The wooden pylon snapped and 32,000-volt cables fell onto the vehicle, electrocuting the 26-year-old as he attempted to escape the burning 4X4.

He was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, but died about an hour after the crash, which happened at about 1600 BST on 7 June 2009.

The inquiry, before Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen, continues.

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