Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ROMA FAN JAILED FOR VIOLENCE AT ANFIELD
Ultras attack left dad-of-3 Sean critically ill
A THUG has been jailed for his violent behaviour on the night a football fan was brutally assaulted.
Dad-of-three Sean Cox, from Dunboyne in Co Meath, was attacked outside Liverpool FC’S home ground Anfield on April 24.
The 53-year-old was airlifted to Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital in May and has been receiving round-the-clock care since.
At Preston Crown Court yesterday Daniel Sciusco, 29, was sentenced to two-anda-half years for his role in the chaos. He had pleaded guilty to the charge.
Although he did not himself assault Mr Cox, the Italian participated in the unrest before Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final against AS Roma. In sentencing, Judge Mark Brown said: “Sean Cox was injured during this violent disorder and that has an impact on the level of harm, even though Mr Sciusco was not directly involved in attacking him.
“We cannot simply ignore that.” The court heard Sciusco travelled to Liverpool with Roma fans and ultras, who wear dark jackets and black jeans. He was also wearing this clothing.
The group arrived in the city centre at 6pm and headed towards Anfield. In CCTV images, ultras could be seen using belts to attack people. Mr Cox’s brother Martin told the court he heard lots of noise, “not in a good way”. He turned to find Sean on the floor. When he tried to help, he too fell and was kicked in the buttocks.
He said he saw people in dark clothing with their faces covered.
Sciusco was later arrested on the concourse outside Anfield, having changed his clothing.
The judge told him there was “no doubt in my mind” the ultras had been intent on violence.
He added: “You and others were armed with belts and chains.
“Bottles were thrown and Sean Cox was struck, causing him to fall over and strike his head. The footage shows you were close by when it happened.”
He added: “It seems important it had been your group which had provoked and caused the trouble.”