Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Celtic pitch invader avoids prison
Hatton avoids jail time for Champions League assault
A CELTIC fan has been spared jail for invading the pitch and assaulting an opposition player.
John Hatton, 21, swapped his terrace brown boots and jacket for a new suit, umbrella and leather gloves at a hearing in Glasgow yesterday.
The accused, from Portadown, Co Armagh, was before the court after jumping over a metal railing and running on to the pitch at Celtic Park.
He then aimed a wild kick at Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe during the game which saw Celtic lose 5-0.
It happened in the 40th minute after the French side scored their third goal.
Hatton was punched on the head by fellow supporter Anthony Lavelle as he was led away by police. Lavelle was later fined £400.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Tesco delivery worker Hatton pleaded guilty to behaviour likely to incite public disorder by approaching Mbappe on September 12.
Yesterday, Hatton stood in the dock where Sheriff Diane Mcconnell handed him a community payback order.
She said in her view the offence “met the custody threshold” but there was a “clear alternative”.
Sheriff Mcconnell told Hatton: “It is fortunate the player you targeted wasn’t struck or injured but he must have been greatly alarmed.
“Clearly there was considerable potential for serious large scale disorder as a consequence of your actions.
“Indeed, I am told some disorder did follow upon your conduct and the crowd became hostile as a consequence of what you did.”
Hatton made no comment as he left the court building.
Fiscal depute Louise Macneill told the court the Parkhead stadium was at full capacity at the time.
Defence lawyer Dan Cameron said Hatton lives with his mum who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and helps her with daily tasks.
He said: “He does accept he was drinking from 11am in the morning.
“The [background] report is quite clear about his remorse being genuine. He’s aware of the impact his actions have had, he has been banned by the club for life.”