Let off scot free, 15 Ajax football thugs
FIFTEEN Dutch football hooligans accused of a rampage in Glasgow have escaped possible prosecution in Scotland.
Prosecutors in the Netherlands have been asked by the Crown Office to take on the case, 20 months after a gang carried out sickening attacks on businesses and members of the public.
However, weeks after turning to the Dutch authorities for help with the case, which centres on Celtic’s Europa League match against Ajax FC in Glasgow in 2015, the Crown Office has yet to send paperwork.
Last night, Grant Kelly, 29, of Hillington, Glasgow, whose jaw and cheekbone were broken after he was kicked by 30 people, spoke of his shock at the outcome.
The 29-year-old said: ‘Someone should be facing a charge of attempted murder. I lost seven teeth and my jaw was broken in three places. To hear our prosecutors have dropped it angers me.’
Neil O’Donnell, 37, owner of the Hoops Bar in Gallowgate, where Mr Kelly was a customer, was battered with an iron bar.
When police eventually arrived, the thugs – many wearing balaclavas to hide their identities – were still stamping on his head.
Mr O’Donnell said: ‘When the police rescued me I was face down and unconscious. I have three titanium plates in my face. But they are there permanently.’
Billy Gold, owner of the Hielan Jessie bar, which was also targeted, said: ‘This was violence on an industrial scale. It’s disgraceful to think we endured all that grief and no one will be prosecuted here.’
Fifteen suspects – including one woman – were later identified.
Murray Macara, a solicitor in Glasgow on the Law Society’s criminal law committee said: ‘The Scottish authorities are asking the Dutch to take up the case because they did not want to do it. You need to ask if the Dutch have the stomach for this. They will also be asking themselves if it’s in the public interest in the Netherlands to seek justice for victims in Scotland.’
In a statement, the Crown Office said: ‘The Procurator Fiscal at Glasgow received a report concerning a 23-year-old female and fourteen males aged between 19 and 38, in connection with alleged incidents on November 26, 2015.
‘After discussing with representatives from the Netherlands, Crown Counsel instructed that the matter be transferred for Dutch prosecutors to take forward.’
The Netherlands Public Prosecution Service said the Crown Office asked it last month to ‘take over’ proceedings against 15 people who allegedly committed crimes.
A spokesman added: ‘Our prosecutor has asked his counterpart in Scotland to send files. Up until today we haven’t received them.’
Liam Kerr, Scottish Tory justice spokesman, said: ‘Dutch authorities owe it to the victims to ensure these hooligans are punished.’