Fans blamed for pub damage

[Harry]

Anyone know anything about this. Is it merely the case of drunken football fans or has something else gone on???


Soccer fans blamed for pub damage

Seven men have been arrested
Visiting soccer fans have been blamed for vandalising a public house in Londonderry.
Windows in the Tavern Bar were smashed during the trouble involving Bohemians supporters on Tuesday evening.

Fans of the Dublin-based team were in the city for the League Cup Final against Derry City.

Seven men have been arrested following the incident. Police said a small band of supporters were later escorted to Foyle Street bus depot.

Kingsley Curry, the manager of the Tavern Bar, said: "I was told they were in the bar and the staff were jammed in the bar and they were getting attacked.

"When I came down, the police were here and the crowd were gathered but the boys that done the bar were away."

[Harry]

Possibly something more sinister.


Bohemian fans blamed for Derry bar attack
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It was a crowd of hooligans going to the game at the Brandywell Wednesday, October 10, 2007

By Clare Weir

Football fans travelling from Dublin for the Eircom League Cup final clash with Derry City were today blamed for attacking a bar on the edge of the predominantly Protestant Fountain area.

The Tavern in London Street had windows smashed and a number of drinkers were injured in the melee at around 7pm yesterday.

The trouble came as Derry City and Bohemians prepared to meet at the Brandywell.

Bar owner Kingsley Curry said a 30-strong gang smashed four windows made of reinforced glass, trashed furniture and broke bottles before a small number of regulars were able to barricade the front door to prevent them re-entering.

He said the culprits had "southern accents" and may have travelled to the game from the Republic.

However, Mr Curry said that the bar, better known as the 'Talk of the Town', would reopen for business as usual today.

"It was a crowd of hooligans going to the game at the Brandywell," he said. "They were all from the Republic, the whole lot of them, the staff said."

He said when he arrived after being contacted by worried employees, the mob had moved on. "They broke windows and there was a scuffle inside and the staff tried to get them out and they tried to climb back in through the broken windows," he said.

He added that there was only a small number of patrons in the bar, comprising middle aged or elderly men and some female tourists from Canada.

"One wee girl in for a drink had to go to hospital, when she was hit on the hand with something, she was badly shaken. A barman had a cut on his ear from flying glass," said the owner.

Police said that a 17-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident

[Jim]

That happens in England all the time. they're real strict about it here.

[Jim]

I'm an armchair cliftonville fan but I know we're shite anyway.

But this happens all the time in England, its just not reported, just be glad we dont have fucking cockney reds (cuz all of uniteds fans are from london ha ha ha) and chelsea headhunters.

[Wasp]

Spurs now have the worst or best frim depending on how you look at it. Even other firms from Millwall and Chelsea are disgusted and shocked
at them.

[Harry]

setanta said:

I'm a Boh's armchair fan these days but I used to go to games back in the day. I'd never have expected this from Bohs and I'm sure these eegits weren't members of the Casuals because they wouldn't be into this sort of thing.

Anyhooo have a read of what the Bohs fans are saying
thebohs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4796&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

It seems like the majority of the supporters want nothing to do with this sort of behaviour. Its unfair to tarnish all the supporters over the actions of a few. It does seem like it is being viewed as a sectarian incident. Possibly a few to many beers and the situation got the better of them. God i wish idiots like this would come into our area with this attitude ;D ;D

[Jim]

setanta said:

fuckin teenage skinny muppet wannabes, who you'd put over your knee if they were alone

are you into that sort of thing then?

[Harry]

Soccer thugs are jailed over attack on bar
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This must have been a very frightening experience for the customers and staff Magistrate hailed for tough stance as louts get three month sentences
Thursday, October 11, 2007

A Londonderry magistrate was today hailed for jailing four football fans from Dublin who wrecked a bar earlier this week - after asking the owner for his views on whether they should pay compensation or be put behind bars.

The men, who travelled to Derry on Tuesday night for the eircom League Cup final between Derry City and Bohemians, were yesterday jailed for three months after admitting their involvement in disturbances outside The Tavern bar an hour before the match.

Jailing them, resident magistrate Barney McElholm described their actions as "outrageous thuggery".

Those jailed were Evan Kane (20), a student from Upper Dorset Street, Dublin, Francis O'Reilly (29), a local authority employee from Clonturk Park, Dublin, Gavin James Hanly (22), a security company employee from McKee Park, Dublin, and Brian Shannon (20), of Ventry Drive, Cabra.

All four pleaded guilty to a charge of riotous behaviour at the bar, situated near the loyalist Fountain estate.

O'Reilly, Hanly and Shannon also pleaded guilty to a charge of causing up to £3,000 of criminal damage to the bar.

The four, who declined legal representation when they appeared in court, were among seven men arrested following the trouble.

A Public Prosecution Service solicitor told the court that the four had earlier been drinking in another bar before they entered the Tavern Bar.

Once inside the premises they shouted "Up The Ra" and smashed three windows, damaged items of furniture and assaulted two women.

All four declined to address the court before they were sentenced.

The magistrate said:"This must have been a very frightening experience for the customers and staff.

"I view this as an extremely serious offence. We for a long time in this part of the country have had to put up with violence and now just at a time when we at last seem to be dragging ourselves out of it, you four arrive from Dublin."

When the sentences were passed, two of the four defendants wept in the dock. All four then asked to instead be allowed to pay compensation and restitution to the bar owner, Kingsley Curry, who was present.

Mr McElholm asked Mr Curry if he wanted a chance to recover money from the four or did he want the punishment already imposed.

"Punishment, I will take the loss," Mr Curry replied.

Mr McElholm then said: "That is fair enough, the sentences stand."

Mr Curry today stood by his decision.

"It was their choice to wreck the bar and they have to suffer the consequences," he said.

"People have to get the message that they can come in and wreck a place and then walk away with a small fine. I am glad the judge was so strong on this."

He added that he has been inundated by support since the attack.

"I have had people from the Brandywell up here, I have other bar owners and they all say they are sickened with this. It is now time for us to pick up and get on with repairs."

SDLP councillor Sean Carr, who was one of the first on the scene, also welcomed the stance.

"I totally agree with this decision, for a long time people have felt let down by the judiciary in terms of light sentencing but this will send out the message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.

"The people of the city will not tolerate it either and I hope that there will be similar swift and strong action against vandals in future."

And he added: "It also shows that our CCTV system is working, too."

[Jim]

Nah but I hear interpol are out looking for an Irish man into that sort of thing with kids.

[Jim]

Haha, was a bit too far suppose.

[Harry]

I only just read that a SF member was one of those involved in this trouble and he has been dismissed from the party because of it. Honestly if there not climbing on roofs to set fire to Orange halls then they are attacking protestant pubs. Still an awful lot of rogue elements infesting SF.

[Harry]

setanta said:

harry said:

I only just read that a SF member was one of those involved in this trouble and he has been dismissed from the party because of it. Honestly if there not climbing on roofs to set fire to Orange halls then they are attacking protestant pubs. Still an awful lot of rogue elements infesting SF.

2 out of a party of thousands? But aren't you glad that he was dismissed straight away?

Not really. What choice did they have but to dismiss him?? It does nothing but further alienate Unionism from SF and give all those SF haters further proof that SF can't be trusted. Is it true that this chap was well known and played a big role in different election campaigns??

[Jim]

Mate no matter what happens there will be people who think SF can't be trusted. They can't fart without alienating unionists.

[Harry]

jim said:

Mate no matter what happens there will be people who think SF can't be trusted. They can't fart without alienating unionists.

of course there will be but then you get SF members who do things like this and make it all much more easy for them. How many more more SF men would do the same??

[Jim]

harry said:

jim said:

Mate no matter what happens there will be people who think SF can't be trusted. They can't fart without alienating unionists.

of course there will be but then you get SF members who do things like this and make it all much more easy for them. How many more more SF men would do the same??

Because he is a member of SF does not mean hes not going to make any mistakes. This happens all the time in England, if someone who was a member of Labour or even the BNP did this they're party allegiance wouldn't be called into it, its nothing to do with it. Its a group of fellas being a bollocks and causing trouble.