22 Apr 2011

Sun, bank holiday, booze – Old Firm clash ‘perfect storm’

Scotland’s top police officer has warned that the combination of alcohol, hot weather and the bank holiday weekend could mean increased violence for the last Old Firm match of the season.

Police briefed before a previous Old Firm cash (Getty)

Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Stephen House predicted that violence, including rape and domestic abuse, will surge when arch rivals Rangers and Celtic meet on Sunday at Ibrox in the seventh and last Old Firm match of the season.

Chief Constable House told the Scottish Sun newspaper: “It’s a bank holiday, it is the last meeting of the season – which is crucial for a result – and the weather forecast is hot.”

“That means people will be drunk and they will get injured or raped, assaults go up and so does domestic violence.

“We do not see the clubs as the enemy. We do not blame Celtic or Rangers for the violence. The people who are responsible are those who use knives, fists or whatever other weapons on their fellow human beings.”

He warned that it is the “perfect storm”, and plans to put 1,000 extra officers on the streets.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon with police protection (Getty)

Parcel bombs

On Wednesday, police in Scotland launched an investigation after Celtic manager Neil Lennon and two prominent Celtic fans were sent bombs through the post.

The latest in a series of incidents targeting people linked to the football club, Rangers manager Walter Smith deemed it a new low in the history of the Old Firm rivalry.

Other devices were sent to the Celtic manager’s high-profile lawyer Paul McBride QC, and former MSP Trish Godman, who was recently photographed in a Celtic strip.

Mr Smith, 63, said: “It has been a bad week for us, I’ve got to say, and for the Old Firm historically.

“In the 20 years I’ve been involved and being from the west of Scotland, I’ve never known a week quite like this. It’s sad.

“When you look at people like Neil Lennon and the other couple of people involved in threats, it’s something that unfortunately goes far beyond the footballing aspect.”

Earlier this year, packages containing bullets were sent to Mr Lennon and to Celtic players Paddy McCourt and Niall McGinn, all three of whom are from Northern Ireland.