Old firm fans’ train confrontation lands men in court

Feb 12 2010 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A VIOLENT confrontation between rival football supporters brought a train to a halt between Perth and Stirling.

The guard and police became involved as fans made their way to an Old Firm game in Glasgow and Charles Mangan, of Dunsinane Drive, Perth, was arrested.

Perth Sheriff Court was told yesterday that a number of Rangers fans were singing songs which annoyed the 50-year-old Celtic diehard.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said Mangan’s companion asked them to stop – and that had some effect.

But the accused was overheard telling his friend he was “going to be in hospital” as there were 10 of them and only one of him.

At one stage, another fan wearing a Rangers’ top appeared and the accused told him to “f*** off” and said he “hoped he drowned”.

Mr Brown added: “Thereafter the accused was standing near the toilet when another person appeared and asked to get in but the accused ignored him.”

An argument developed and the accused became involved in a fight after he was struck.

Other people became involved and managed to separate them and the train was stopped after the emergency cord was pulled.

A solicitor for Mangan said the altercation involved up to 10 Rangers supporters in one of the carriages.

The accused left to try and get away from trouble but someone tried to trip him up and gesticulated at him in a threatening manner.

“He was in fear he would end up in hospital but accepts he should not have let matters escalate,” the fiscal added.

Although he was going to watch the game in a pub in Glasgow, Mangan had not been wearing football colours at the time.

He pled guilty to committing a breach of the peace on the train on October 4 last year.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis imposed a fine of £125.