Scott McSeveney
Mark Stoddart
John Saunders
GMP’s Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “Today’s sentences act as a timely reminder that anyone caught causing football-related trouble on the streets of Manchester can expect a robust sentence and to be banned from attending matches.”
Scott McSeveney, 22, of Hunter Avenue, Shotts, Lanarkshire, was convicted of section 47 assault and violent disorder following a trial in March. He was sentenced to jail for three and a half years and given an eight-year football banning order.
Mark Stoddart, 26, of Westmuir Street, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to section 47 assault and violent disorder. He was sentenced to two and a half years and given an eight-year football banning order.
John Saunders, 32, of Fullarton Road, Cumbernauld, Glasgow, pleaded guilty to two counts of violent disorder. He was sentenced to 15 months in jail and received a six-year football banning order.
McSeveney was one of a group of thugs who attacked PC John Goodwin on Newton Street. He was caught on CCTV joining in punching and kicking the officer as he lay curled on the ground.
Stoddart was seen on CCTV footage to trip PC Mick Regan, also on Newton Street, before joining in a sustained assault on the officer by a group of yobs.
Saunders was also part of this group and was seen to attack PC Regan while he was on the ground.
The following all pleaded guilty to violent disorder which related to general disorder against police officers in either Piccadilly or Market Street.
Michael Hindle, 22, of Westmorland Close, Leyland, Chorley, Lancashire, was jailed for eight months with a six-year football banning order.
Gordon Forrest, 46, of Ledi Drive, Bearsden, Glasgow, Strathclyde was jailed for 14 months with a football banning order for six years.
James Bell, 43, of Corrie View, Cumbernauld, Glasgow, Strathclyde, was jailed for 12 months with a football banning order for six years.
Thomas Murphy, 28, of Flatterton Road, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Strathclyde jailed for 14 months and received a six-year football banning order.
David McCullough, 21, of Moorcroft Drive, Burnage, Manchester was jailed for six months and given a six-year football banning order.
David Annette, 35, of Yarrow Road, Chorley, Lancashire, was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also given a football banning order for six years.
William McSporran, 18, of Craighouse Street, Glasgow, was detained for 12 months in a young offenders’ institute and banned from football matches for six years.
Brian McVicar, 20, of Falkland Drive, East Kilbride, was found guilty of violent disorder following a trial in May. He was sentenced to 21 months detention in a young offenders’ institute and received a six-year football banning order.
Greg McKenna, 23, of Falkland Drive, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, was found guilty of violent disorder following a trial in May and was given an 18-month jail sentence and received a six year football banning order.
Immediately after the match, GMP launched Operation Gale to find the people responsible. The investigation featured on the BBC programme Crimewatch UK, on GMP’s website and footage was also uploaded on YouTube, Facebook and Bebo in an effort to reach as many potential witnesses as possible.
Hundreds of people called GMP suggesting names of the offenders. GMP carried out a series of coordinated arrests in Scotland and England.
Match commander for the event, Chief Superintendent Gerry Donnellan, said: “Today’s results are for the people of Manchester and for genuine football fans everywhere. The city of Manchester has never forgotten what happened that night. May 14 2008 is a night when shameful violence marred what should have been a wonderful football showcase.
“A number of supporters and officers were injured and many innocent members of the public were concerned for their safety. It must have been terrifying for anyone caught up in it. All of these defendants took part in that violence and must share some of the responsibility for the disorder in our city that night.
“I must pay tribute to both the investigation team and to members of the public who helped us identify these people – without the great response of the Scottish public to our publicity campaign we may not have found these hooligans.”
[...] Inside the M60 | 12 football hooligans sentenced for UEFA violence [...]
They deserve jail…