Three men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a brutal, hate-motivated assault that left a 48-year-old Celtic supporter with bleeding on the brain. The violent incident occurred on March 8 outside Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, immediately following the Scottish Cup quarter-final where Celtic defeated Rangers 4-2 on penalties. The Crown Office confirmed that Scott Dragsness, 55, and Ben Stanex, 24, both from Belfast, along with Andrew Graham, 21, from Dundonald, all from Northern Ireland, admitted to carrying out the attack.
Three Northern Irish men jailed for religiously motivated assault outside Ibrox
Prosecutors described the assault as “ferocious,” detailing how the trio knocked the victim to the ground as he attempted to board a Celtic supporters’ bus. The court heard that the men proceeded to kick and stamp on the victim’s head and body, leaving him unconscious in the road. Crucially, the attack was accompanied by religious abuse, leading prosecutors to classify the incident as a hate crime motivated by religious prejudice. This characterization underscores the severe legal implications of sectarian violence in football, distinguishing it from standard public order offenses.
The sentencing highlights the zero-tolerance approach Scottish courts are taking toward sectarian violence associated with the Old Firm rivalry. By labeling the incident a hate crime, the judiciary has reinforced the message that religiously motivated attacks carry significantly heavier penalties than generic assaults. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers fans face in the aftermath of high-stakes derbies, prompting renewed calls for enhanced security measures and stricter policing around major Scottish football fixtures to protect supporters from targeted violence.
Source: Yahoo Sports
