Italian fan admits assault

An Italian football fan has pleaded guilty to a violent disorder charge in relation to the attack which left Liverpool supporter Sean Cox fighting for his life.

Sean, who works at Dundalk company Precision Cables remains in a critical condition after suffering a severe bleed on the brain before his side’s Champion’s League semi-final clash against AC Roma on April 24.

Italian national Daniele Sciusco, (29), pleaded guilty to charges linked to the assault at Liverpool Crown Court last week. He has been remanded in custody as he awaits sentencing.

Filippo Lombardi, (21) also appeared in Liverpool Crown Court where he pleaded not guilty to violent disorder and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Cox. He will now stand trial in Preston this October.

Both men appeared in court via video link from HMP Preston where they have been remanded in custody since their arrest.

Father-of-three Sean Cox is reportedly still in a critical condition at the Walton Neurologial Centre in Liverpool, five weeks after the vicious assault.

Sean is from Dunboyne, County Meath, but has been working for many years in Dundalk.

His family say they have been ‘overwhelmed and humbled’ by the support they have received since the attack.

In a statement released earlier this month his family thanked medical staff and police for their hard work. ‘ There are no words to describe the gratitude we feel to the ordinary people of Liverpool and Ireland who have taken Sean to their hearts in a way that underlines why those places have such a deserved reputation for generosity and solidarity.’