Two in court for Anfield assault
Family bedside vigil as father remains in coma
TWO Italian men have been charged with a serious assault on an Irish football fan, who has been left fighting for his life. Filippo Lombardi, 20, and Daniele Sciusco, 29, both appeared at Merseyside’s South Sefton Magistrates’ Court yesterday, charged with violent disorder following the Champion’s League semi-final in Liverpool on Tuesday.
Father-of-three Sean Cox, from Dunboyne, Co. Meath, remains in a critical condition after the alleged attack by the two men.
Lombardi was also charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on 53-year-old Mr Cox, who suffered serious head injuries when he was assaulted before the match between Liverpool and Roma at Anfield.
No pleas were indicated by the two defendants and the case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court, where both men will appear on May 24.
District Judge Jack McGarva said he would not grant bail for the two men, who spoke through an Italian interpreter.
Members of Mr Cox’s family have flown over from Ireland to maintain a vigil at his bedside in the Walton Neurological Centre in Liverpool.
They said they are ‘devastated’ and just want Mr Cox home.
The Dunboyne man was described by his family yesterday as a ‘truly decent man’ who is an ‘amazing and wonderful’ husband and father.
Mr Cox’s family, in a statement, said: ‘We want the world to know that Sean is the most amazing and wonderful husband, dad, friend, son, uncle, and brother and he has brought us all nothing but joy.
‘He is a truly decent man who adores Liverpool FC and just came over from his home in County Meath, Ireland, to watch his beloved team.
‘We are completely devastated by what has happened to our lovely, caring, Sean and all we want is for him to come home to his loving wife and three children.
‘We hope that Sean makes a full recovery from the injuries he sustained and that we will all be back together soon as a family in Ireland spending precious time together.’
Mr Cox’s wife Martina travelled to Walton Neurological Centre so that she can be by her husband’s side.
Mr Cox works as the sales director for Precision Cables and serves as the treasurer of his local St Peter’s GAA club in Dunboyne, where he previously served as president.
Mr Cox remained in a critical but stable condition in hospital last night.
It is understood he is being kept in an induced coma until Monday when they will bring him out of the coma.
Sporadic trouble broke out in Liverpool city centre before Tuesday’s game, as more than 50,000 fans descended on Anfield, including around 5,000 fans from Italy.
Fighting erupted near The Albert pub, close to the football ground, shortly before kick-off, where it is believed Mr Cox was hit with a belt and fell to the ground.
A friend of Mr Cox, Damien O’Reilly, a councillor in Co. Meath, described him as a role model and cornerstone of the community and heavily involved in local Gaelic football.
He said: ‘Everyone is just in shock and we are praying for a speedy recovery.’
Local TD, Thomas Byrne said: “I sincerely hope and pray that Sean Cox, a most decent man of the Dunboyne community, makes a full recovery.’
Liverpool and Roma football clubs both condemned the violence and European governing body Uefa is awaiting further information before deciding what its next step should be.
‘He is a truly decent man’