Football coach jailed for beating up partner
ThughadputinforEKFCjob
ALEX DOWDALLS
A football manager who threw his hat into the ring for the vacant East Kilbride FC manager’s job has been jailed for domestic abuse.
Tony McNally was found guilty at Airdrie Sheriff Court of assaulting his partner and causing her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.
Last week the thug was starting a 20-month jail sentence for the abuse that happened at a house in Derwentwater in March last year.
The 33-year-old, of Castlemilk, denied repeatedly punching his ex on the head whilst she was on the ground.
However, jurors took just over two and a half hours to find him guilty of the vicious attack that left her front teeth forced backwards and a cut lip.
Sheriff Morag Shankland heard how McNally had previous convictions and was on two bail orders from Glasgow Sheriff Court, imposed on him in 2018.
She told the thug: “I have no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence, even although the jury came to a guilty verdict finding provocation.
“You will go to prison for 20 months.” The sheriff also slapped him with a nonharassment order, banning him from any contact with her for four years.
A former head coach of League Two Annan Athletic, and head of youth development at League One Dumbarton, McNally was presently manager of
Swedish Division Two side Ytterhogdal IK.
He was had recently applied for the vacant manager’s job at Lowland League side Kilby. Defence agent John Kilcoyne told the court: “He has been a football coach since he was 19 and is now a football manager in Sweden.
“He had a long-term relationship for 13 years and has an eight year-old son.
“This domestic offence happened at the end of this relationship.
“His life has always been focussed on football coaching.
“This offence happened during a time that he was back from Sweden.
“He had taken alcohol. He accepts that it was a serious assault, but under provocation.
“He is very concerned about a custodial sentence.
“He has a two year contract with the Swedish club.
“He takes players from Scotland and England to Sweden and this Sunday is due to fly there with a player from Kilmarnock Football Club.
“He works long hours from 7am until late in the evening.
“He realises that the court has few options open.
“He is able to pay compensation to his victim and could pay £2500 within a year.
“A lot of people speak very highly of him and a jail sentence would leave his football career in tatters.
“He is not in a rush to get into a relationship in any time in the near future. This is his first crime for violence.”
I’ve no alternative but a custodial sentence...