Accused claim Lennon 'lost plot'

Neil Lennon told the court he was "pretty upset" after the incident

Two men accused of attacking Neil Lennon have told a court that he should have been charged over the incident.

David Whitelaw, 47, and Jeffrey Carrigan, 43, claimed the Celtic coach "lost the plot" and had been "foaming at the mouth".

Earlier, Glasgow Sheriff Court was told that Mr Lennon had made a one-fingered gesture to both men in response to a comment about a football result.

Both accused deny committing assault on 1 September due to religious prejudice.

The case revolves around events in Glasgow's Ashton Lane last September.

Mr Whitelaw told the court: "If I didn't punch the person (Mr Lennon), Mr Carrigan would have ended up in hospital.

"This guy was going right ahead, he had lost the plot. The way I saw it, Mr Lennon should've been charged."

Mr Carrigan was the victim and he was in shock afterwards. He was in shock because of what Neil Lennon had done to him David Whitelaw Accused

Mr Whitelaw, who is claiming self defence, said Mr Lennon pushed Mr Carrigan, grabbed him by the throat and swung a punch at him before he stepped in and punched the former player to the ground.

He added: "He hit the deck and Mr Carrigan kicked him and I said 'leave it out' and the two of us walked away."

Mr Whitelaw told the court that "none of this would have happened" if Mr Lennon "had kept his head".

"Mr Carrigan was the victim and he was in shock afterwards. He was in shock because of what Neil Lennon had done to him," he said.

"You don't expect that from a professional football player."

Procurator fiscal depute Mark Allan asked Mr Whitelaw if five other witnesses who claimed that he had kicked Mr Lennon as he lay on the ground were wrong and he replied "yes".

'Victim claim'

The accused also denied that he had acted in a cowardly fashion.

His co-accused Mr Carrigan, later also claimed that he had been the victim.

He told the court that he saw the Celtic coach standing at Jinty McGinty's bar.

He said: "I said to him in response to the result - 'did you like the score today Lennon'."

If you had seen the look in Neil Lennon's face that night, the horror, the foaming at the mouth, the anger and the aggression that was ripping out of his face, it was terrifying Jeffrey Carrigan Accused

Mr Carrigan said that Mr Lennon then swore while asking him what he said.

Mr Carrigan added: "I then turned away, Mr Whitelaw was behind me, I don't know what he was up to. I told Mr Lennon to put a sock in it and I then saw him walking brazenly towards me.

"Mr Whitelaw put his arm out and told him to leave it out. Mr Lennon then grabbed me with both hands around the throat."

Mr Carrigan then claimed that Mr Lennon landed a punch which put him into "a semi-state of shock".

He then claimed to have no memory of what happened afterwards and said he had been "fearing for his safety".

Mr Carrigan told the jury: "If you had seen the look in Neil Lennon's face that night, the horror, the foaming at the mouth, the anger and the aggression that was ripping out of his face, it was terrifying."

Finger gesture

Earlier, bar worker Liam Cameron, 24, told the court that Mr Lennon had made a one-fingered gesture to both accused after comments were made about the Old Firm game.

Mr Cameron claimed that Mr Lennon raised his middle finger at the men who then walked on but shouted abuse back.

He said: "Mr Lennon then said 'what did you just call me?' and started walking towards the men."

The barman told the court that the Celtic coach was then punched to the ground and the men started kicking him on the head and body.

He said that he had never heard the accused use the term "Fenian" - a claim made by an earlier witness, Louise Bradley.

Mr Cameron also said that he had not seen any physical aggression or contact from Mr Lennon before the first punch was thrown.

The trial continues.