After an Edinburgh jury found Neil Lennon’s attacker at Tynecastle last season not guilty of assault no one will be surprised that Lord Turnbull has today advised the jury there was insufficient evidence to prove two accused intended to murder Neil Lennon, Paul McBride and former MSP Trish Godman.
The two will now face the reduced charge of plotting to assault their victims. With a bomb. Perhaps a world first.
The Celtic manager gave evidence at the trial earlier this month before carrying the coffin of his friend and fellow target Paul McBride, who died suddenly of natural causes. The SFA yesterday wrote to Neil Lennon for the third time in 10 days concerning refereeing comments he made.
My advice to Mr Ogilvie and Mr Regan at the SFA is that they fill their boots while they can. Neil will be free of these stresses soon and no longer be such a vulnerable target for the Association to gorge on like a bitter pack of rabid dogs.
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1st?
one Scotland…
The pair face a separate allegation of dispatching an item on 3 March to Mr Lennon at Celtic Park with the intention of inducing him to believe that it would “explode or ignite”.
Charges were dropped last Friday by the Crown and a further alternative allegation contrary to the Explosive Substances Act of “unlawfully and maliciously conspiring” to endanger life or cause serious injury was also dropped.
++++++++++++++++++++++
So, here we are, a lesser charge of assualt is what we are left with…
This place stinks.
No way wasnt looking for this
Paul67
It crossed my mind a number of months ago that NL would walk away (Admittedly with a Treble) at the end of the season to escape this place.
I really wouldn’t blame him.
Paul I like the sound of this.
My advice to Mr Ogilvie and Mr Regan at the SFA is that they fill their boots while they can. Neil will be free of these stresses soon and no longer be such a vulnerable target for the Association to gorge on like a bitter pack of rabid dogs.
God Bless Neil Francis Lennon.
This guy ended up with 6 years in 2009 after Breach of the Peace and Firearms offences from 6 “explosive devices” put in the post.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8061893.stm
We need to protest outside the Scottish Parliament if this pans out the way it looks like it’s going to. And outside Downing St too for good measure.
I am expecting the charge to be reduced to threatening behaviour or breach …… after all, nobody got hurt.
RFF then announce that these are honourable men and give them a few quid.
Paul – Why will Neil be free of these stresses soon ? Do you expect him to walk at the end of the season ?
Shocked but not totally surprised,if that makes any sense.Guys getting bigger sentences for nonsense on social network sites,than attempted murder.The Big Hun Society.
Football supporters can get up to five years in jail for being offensive, how much is being offensive with a bomb worth?
Anyone
I take it Paul Mc Bride passing away never activated their sympathy gene
Hail Hail
Thoughts on Regan interview… Things in place to see that RFCia are rightly stripped of all results aquired with players wrongly registered.
We just need to make sure he keeps his focus when faced
“My advice to Mr Ogilvie and Mr Regan at the SFA is that they fill their boots while they can. Neil will be free of these stresses soon and no longer be such a vulnerable target for the Association to gorge on like a bitter pack of rabid dogs.”
That either sounds like Lenny is quitting (and I really couldn’t blame him) or Celtic are quitting and heading somewhere new.
Boy I wish it was the latter!!
Why has Bain dropped his court action?
It sounds as if he has withdrawn it rather than settled it.
Is it anything to do with the email?
RogueLeader
The major difference is the target of the bombs.
So who thinks Rangers will lose the BIG TAX CASE ?
Hail Hail
Win the league and cup and leave.. Neil. We would not blame you.
So as things stand, Neil Lennon’s all over the papers being charged with a 3rd SFA breach, and Rangers are heroes for presenting an outsize cheque to Dunfermline for the money they OWE them. Meanwhile, their Legends match, goes ahead tonight under the initial false pretence of being a charity event with all proceeds going to them, Martin Bain has dropped his case for £1.3m damages against Shameless FC, and the two accused of conspiracy to murder Lennon, Godman, and McBride have had their charges reduced by yet another incompetent prosecution, with the now strong likelihood that they will escape any punishment.
Is that everything? Well, that covers today at least.
Wasn’t Thursday supposed to bring good news?
To quote Otto, “Disappointed!”
With the Scottish backlash…
Or am i naive and being sucked in
@celticrumours: So a representative from Brian Kennedy posts on Followfollow under the name “Bainer” & the next day Martin Bain drops his court case?Hmm…
In September 2008, three men were convicted at Woolwich crown court of conspiracy to murder.
These men had not even gone as far as making the bombs but had posted videos on the internet saying that they would bomb a plane.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/sep/09/3
Mort
kitalba
You mean you’ve never sent someone a non-viable explosive device in the post as a joke? The look on my friend’s face – you can’t buy that kind of comedy.
#bombbanter
Scotland again today displayed all the consistency and predictability in it’s courts as Mississippi in the 1960′s.
Mississippi Burning.
I don’t know if you are alluding to Neil walking away at the end of the season Paul, but if he does then I would fully expect the plc Board to ensure the whole watching world know the full reasons for this i.e. Neil has been victimised by every section of Scottish society, from Alex Salmond, the Judicairy, Police, football authorities right down to the lowest of the low that infest Ibrox and every other Scottish football ground (except Celtic Park) every weekend.
This will be a dark dark day for Scotland
Is Ogilvy & Reagen leaving then?
Second part sounds intriguing Paul.
Just heard a discussion on R5 re-offensive chanting.
First example used was the bigots singing TFS. Clear condemnation of this by CPS guy followed by an example of West Ham fans swearing (essentially).
I am so angry that the scottish defence of whataboutery wasn’t employed by the editorial staff.
I’m sure the huns who listened will be complaining to the BBC.
Debate now commencing.
HH
Paul:
Toubled on two counts;
Firstly, it’s now ok to send bombs throught the post if the recipients are of a Celtic persuasion. Celtic can’t just let this go!
Secondly, “My advice to Mr Ogilvie and Mr Regan at the SFA is that they fill their boots while they can. Neil will be free of these stresses soon and no longer be such a vulnerable target for the Association to gorge on like a bitter pack of rabid dogs.”
What’s the inference here?
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 29 March, 2012 at 11:36 said:
So who thinks Rangers will lose the BIG TAX CASE ?
Rangers.
We should not leave Scottish football until they are all bankrupt
Hail HAil
I’m confused. If there is not enough evidence to suggest an attempted murder (presumably because the bombs weren’t seen to be viable) then how could the accused be found guilty of conspiracy to assault unless of course the boxes were heavy and could have landed on someone’s toe or when opening it, they could have cut their fingers on the nails.
I really doubt a conspiracy to assault charge can be proven as there is no way anyone could send a bomb to someone just trying to assault them.
Mort
O.G.Rafferty
They are that daft that doesn´t surprise me … back to my original question
Hail Hail
Som mes que un club, he is in the greatest job in the world.
hen1rik, awful behaviour by the SFA.
Henriks Sombrero, cavansam, no. The trial will be over soon, no more giving evidence, no more funerals.
I think the last thing Neil needs right now is anyone speculating about his future. Let the guy get on with his job.
Paul67
still backing an away day boycott at Kilmarnock ?
What´s on offer at Celtic park on that day ?
Trophy presentation day if we win
Hail Hail
goldstar10
And the ironic thing is Neil Lennon himself is fairly apolitical. He was willing to play for Northern Ireland until death threats persuaded him otherwise, and he has been one of the most positive voices in the Scottish game recently, constantly talking the game up, both here and in England, despite the background droning from sports hacks. I suspect that even now he harbours the hope that the malice directed towards him can be limited to the boundaries of football.
You have to wonder why he bothers.
Murder charges have been dropped against two men accused of plotting to kill Celtic manager Neil Lennon and other high-profile supporters of the club.
Trevor Muirhead, 43, and Neil McKenzie, 42, had been accused of conspiring to “assault and murder” Lennon, the late QC Paul McBride and ex-MSP Trish Godman.
But on Thursday morning Judge Lord Turnbull told the jury there was not “sufficient evidence” that the two accused intended to kill their targets.
It means Muirhead and McKenzie will now face a reduced charge of plotting to assault the alleged targets by sending suspected parcel bombs.
Lord Turnbull had earlier heard a legal debate following the closing speech by the prosecution on Wednesday.
He told the jury: “I have come to be satisfied that the evidence in this case – no matter what you make of it and taking it at its highest – it will never be sufficient in law that a conspiracy to murder has been established.
“The part of charge two – the conspiracy to murder – cannot be founded on the evidence you have heard in this trial.”
The accused also face a allegation that they sent another suspected bomb to the offices of Cairde Na hEireann (Friends of Ireland) in the Gallowgate, Glasgow.
Muirhead and McKenzie face an alternative allegation contrary to the Explosive Substances Act of “unlawfully and maliciously conspiring” to endanger life or cause serious injury.
They are further charged with a separate allegation of dispatching an item on March 3 to Neil Lennon at Celtic Park with the intention of inducing him to believe that it would “explode or ignite”.
Both men deny all charges against them, which are alleged to have taken place between March 1 and April 15 2011.