Lennon troll fury
Agent blasts secret pub video
Neil Lennon’s agent has hit out at trolls who secretly filmed the ex-Celtic manager in an English pub, sparking a police probe.
Martin Reilly said Lennon had been harassed and verbally abused for hours during a business lunch before being covertly recorded at a hotel.
Footage of an argument involving the former Parkhead boss, who looked under the influence of alcohol, has gone viral on social media platforms.
It led to police opening up an investigation into whether he had breached cross- border Covid-19 rules by going to Carlisle’s Halston Hotel with
Glasgow Rocks basketball team owner Duncan Smillie.
The video appeared days after pubs in England had reopened, leading to fears people in Scotland would travel across the border for a pint.
But Reilly said he had gone down south for business reasons and the short clip failed to show the abuse the 49-year-old had suffered.
Glasgow Rocks owner Smillie is seen in the video holding on to Lennon, who looked unsteady on his feet. He then gives the ex- Celts boss a hug before being pushed away. Reilly said: “There’s all manner of stuff f lying around about what happened but it’s all wrong. Neil had travelled to Carlisle for a business meeting and to discuss charity work.
“We are confident when the police are told about this, they will drop their investigation. Neil’s done nothing wrong.
“He was subjected to abuse throughout his business lunch and then after when he went for a drink. It was relentless.
“People shouting, ‘You ginger c** t.’ It’s not on. No one else would stand for it. You need to question the motives of people filming him.”
Lennon was also defended by former Rangers manager Ally McCoist, who branded the person who filmed the incident a “disgrace”. He said he was appalled at the “invasion of privacy”.
In 2018, Lennon revealed the extent of sectarian abuse he received. He said he was called a “Fenian”, “tarrier” and “beggar”.
Cumbria Police said: “We have made inquiries and are satisf ied no coronavirus regulation breaches in English law have taken place.”