Five men have been warned they could be jailed for their roles in daytime violence involving rival Scottish Premiership football supporters at a Carlisle pub.
Weapons were reportedly brandished and objects thrown during the incident at Gallagher’s Irish Bar, Botchergate. It happened just before 3pm on Saturday, October 23 October last year, when disorder is said to have broken out involving Celtic and Hibernian supporters.
Hibernian followers are alleged to have had a connection to counterparts from English side Oldham Athletic, who were playing Carlisle United at Brunton Park that afternoon.
At the city’s crown court today, five men admitted an affray charge which was brought by the prosecution as an alternative to a previous violent disorder allegation.
Those admitting affray were five members of the Celtic contingent: twins Kieran Ewing and Owen Ewing, both aged 31 of Woodside Road, Stirling; James Manley, aged 29, of Borthwick Street, Glasgow; Andrew Currie, aged 25, of Brownsdale Road, Rutherglen, Glasgow; and William Gerry, aged 30, of Laurencecroft Road, Stirling.
Prosecutor Andrew Evans told the judge that CCTV had captured the incident with each defendant’s individual role picked out.
Recorder Michael Blakey adjourned the case and directed that probation service pre-sentence reports should be prepared on the five men.
They were granted unconditional bail and will be sentenced at the crown court on a future date. “All sentences remain open and that includes an immediate custodial sentence,” said Recorder Blakey.
- Four other men pleaded not guilty to the affray charge. They are due to stand trial in front of a jury at the crown court in August next year. That hearing is due to last around five days.
