Neil Lennon has spoken out about the impact of last week’s not proven verdict after John Wilson assaulted the Celtic manager at Tynecastle.
Despite admitting striking the Celtic manager the Hearts thug was awarded the not proven verdict from ’15 good and true men and woman’ on the Edinburgh jury.
The verdict has brought further worldwide shame on Scotland and posed questions of the prosecution for adding in a sectarian element to the assault charge.
Last week Peter Lawwell confirmed that the verdict left Lennon stunned with the Celtic boss revealing that he had to take time away from his job to get over the shameful verdict.
“To be honest I’ve still not got my head around it, Lennon told the Daily Record. “I needed to take time out and get away from everything because obviously the jury’s decision was a shock and confusing.
“I wouldn’t criticise the prosecution for pursuing the religious element of the charges.
“They were just doing their job, it was left to the jury to decide and the jury found it not proven. That’s the way the justice system is and I just have to accept it.
“The public reaction since the verdict has been heartening.
“Eminent people have given their opinions on it and it’s nice to have that sort of backing, to know they are on your side.
“I’ve never had an apology from the guy, but I’m not going to go down that road. I’m hoping that’s the end of it now. I just want to get back to talking about football matters and looking forward to the rest of the season.”
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I can only see two possible explanations for this farce: Either the prosecution or the judge misdirected the jury or the jury were biased against NL. I just hope it was the former as the latter doesnt bear thinking about.
I came from Airdrie, I lived this crap for my entire life. I am sick and tired of those Scots who tell us that sectarianism does not/has not seeped deeply into the very fibre of almost everything in Scotland.
There are those people who say ‘one side is as bad as the other’ or ‘it’s a few bad apples’ etc. etc. etc. For almost 3 hundred years Scotland has carried out a programme against those of Irish descent and those of the Catholic faith.
In 1995 the Kirk of Scotland gave a lukewarm apology for this and many of the people in the street will tell you that they don’t care – until it means something and then, as in the case of Neil Lennon, we see their true colours.
Let’s get this straight -bullets, bombs, death threats and assaults – all originating in Scotland and aimed at those who were Irish and/or Catholic or both. Scots will smirk and tell us that those days are gone yet we continually witness evidence for the fact that it is not – not by a long shot. Don’t make us complicit in your racism, bigotry and sectarian hatred.
Scotland has to face it – it is a nasty, backwards and virtually medieveal country when it comes to certain things. Scotland cannot wash itself of this hatred and this bigotry. No more ‘one side as bad as the other’ country, its institutions a large number of it’s people are biased and narrow.
None of us are safe – and at least, if there is anything that we can take from this case, we are again reminded who we are and what our parents and grandparents were up against. Indeed, we are up against it this institutionlized bigotry – even today.
God Help Scotland – God Bless Ireland.
Idiots are quick to say it’s only Mr Lennon who is a target because “he brings it on himself” somehow oblivious to fact that Mcginn, Mccourt, Trish Goodman, Paul Mcbride etc were also targets of bombs and bullets.
Also this “both as bad each other” crap seems to keep appearing in the media, if that was the case why have approximately 12 Celtic supporters been murdered over the past 20-25 years but no Rangers supporters have? Im no expert but there appears to be a pattern there.
I posted the following as response to sky sports piece but they edited my ending…
September 6, 2011 9:11am
‘so lets see if i got this right – the facts are that a guy jumps onto a football pitch (crime) sprints along the running track and assaults a guy (crime) and testimony from more than one source states that the assailant shouts sectarian bile whilst attacking the victim (added crime). All of this is witnessed by millions as it is transmitted around the globe. And yet the jury find him innocent of the substantive charges! More shame on Scotland, a land that has long tolerated, ignored and now refuses to punish sectarianism’.
BUT they edited the end of my piece which should have read … now refuses to punish sectarianism IF IT’S AGAINST CATHOLICS.
I feel for Neil Lennon nothing really to add other than why does Neil feel he has to talk to the Daily Record a rag I believe he’s had to take to court in the past and they also think he brings it on himself. Celtic fc have media outlets themselves so use them.