http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/articles/1/33639
A Celtic supporter tried to stamp a Rangers fan’s “brains out” over a throw-away comment made after an Old Firm clash.
Brazen thug Robert Murray, 22, pursued two Rangers supporters onto Singer train station before brutally attacking one of them in front of horrified passengers, in the wake of a Celtic defeat.
Witnesses pleaded for Murray — who was wearing a Celtic top — to stop his sustained attack.
Murray’s co-accused, Neil Crombie, 23, had his plea of not guilty to assault accepted by the Crown at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Paul Ayre, fiscal depute, said: “The Old Firm game [had been] on and [the victim] was in the area around the town centre having travelled from a friend’s house where they watched the game.
“Neither the victim or his friend displayed football colours — both had consumed alcohol and [the victim] was heavily under the influence.
“At 6.40pm, as they were approaching Singer railway station, they noted a group of youths hanging around the bus shelter and as they passed them one of them punched [the victim].
“They had enough wits to get away and made their way into the railway station.”
The friends darted across the railway tracks to try and escape the mob as a train approached the west-bound platform, but Murray and two others crossed the footbridge and cut them off and attacked. When the train pulled in the two Rangers fans got on board.
Mr Ayre continued: “Eventually [Murray] managed to get on and he punched [the victim] who fell to the ground.
“All witnesses then say he started stamping on the head of [the victim] — some said [the blows] landed on the head or body.”
Murray then jumped off the train at Singer and it pulled out of the station.
An off-duty nurse attended to the unconscious victim and an ambulance was called to Dalmuir station.
Mr Ayre added: “It was more luck than anything else that [the victim] did not suffer any fractures, just bruising.”
Murray admitted assault to injury on the train at Singer station on August 31 last year.
Tom Maguire, defending, said “The [victim] and his friend were not known to [Murray].
“They passed by — it is accepted they were much the worse for drink — and they passed comment which Murray’s group took as an insult.
“As Murray went over the footbridge the complainer came to him and encountered him on the stairs — they went to the train and he has regrettably pursued him.”
Sentencing, Sheriff Simon Fraser said; “I’m not going to waste words on you Murray.
“You have an appalling record going back six years — possessing a knife, assault, assaulting police, assault with a knife — countless assaults.
“Now you try and stamp someone’s brains out.”
As Murray stood grinning, Sheriff Fraser continued: “You’re just thug and you’re going to be treated like a thug.”
Murray, currently in Greenock prison, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years, to commence once his current jail for a separate offence — term has ended.
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