SENTENCING STATEMENTS

On sentencing, Sheriff McIntyre made the following comments in court:

"Football related crime is a serious and longstanding problem in this city and the development, in recent years, of rioting by football supporters on the streets of Glasgow marks a serious and worrying escalation in the level of disorder to which the people of Glasgow, and visitors to the city, have been subject.  The disturbance in which you were each involved caused, not only disruption, but fear and alarm for people - both adults and children - going about their business in the city centre on a busy Sunday in the lead up to Christmas. 

The preparation for, and the response to, this behaviour also come at a financial cost to public services, draining resources which could be put to better causes. 

This conduct was an embarrassment to the city and to your team.

Such was the scale of these riots that they challenged the ability of the police to maintain law and order, and thus public safety, on the streets of Glasgow.  The officers of Police Scotland who, as part of their day at work, had a duty to turn up, go into the streets, and face the violence of which you were part, in order to protect the public are to be commended for their bravery and professionalism.  It is also to the credit of Police Scotland that, through their skill and dedication, they were able to identify each of you so that these prosecutions could be brought to court.

It is against this background that I must determine the appropriate sentence. 

In doing so, I must take account, in respect of each of you, of your personal circumstances.  On behalf of each of you in turn, your solicitor has put forward reasons for which I should view your conduct more leniently and has pointed to the particular challenges which each of you has faced or faces and, in respect of each of you, I take account of those circumstances.  I have no doubt that you are all capable of, and do, make positive contributions in aspects of your lives.

It is to the credit of each of you that you pled guilty meaning that the case did not require to proceed to trial.  The law recognises that you should be credited for that in the sentence imposed.

Each of you appears to show insight into the offence and expresses remorse. 

Andrew Campbell and Liam Coogans, you are first offenders, and, John Devine and Thomas Slavin, you have only limited records of a less serious nature.

I also accept that none of you was identified as having struck a person or having thrown fireworks, bricks or bottles as others in the crowd did.  Nonetheless, you are criminally responsible for the acts of the others in the group because you were all part of a group acting with a common criminal purpose.

For each of you your solicitor has sought to persuade me not to impose a prison sentence but, instead, to impose a sentence in the community such as a Community Payback Order or a Restriction of Liberty Order.  I have given that much thought. 

I have concluded however, that only prison sentences can mark the seriousness of this offending.  I have also concluded that prison sentences are necessary to protect the public by deterring further such offending in the future.  Having regard to the nature of the offence and the serious challenge which it presented to law and order in the city, I have concluded that community sentences would be wholly inadequate.  Indeed, I consider that to impose community sentences in these cases would risk emboldening those who, for one reason or another, enjoy taking part in football related rioting and might be tempted to do so in the future.  It should be widely understood that, if you choose to riot through the streets of Glasgow, then a prison sentence is highly likely.

The sentences will be as follows:

Andrew Campbell, your part in this crime was made worse because you were seen to walk to the front of the group and to encourage and incite the mob as it proceeded through the town.  The sentence will be one of 2 years modified to 1 ½ years.

John Devine, you were also seen actively to encourage and incite the mob.  From the messages you exchanged before and after the riots, it is plain that your involvement was planned and that you were proud of the conduct which you saw as a victory.  You have only one previous conviction which is for a relatively minor offence in comparison to this conduct.  The sentence will be one of 2 years modified to 1 ½ years.

Thomas Slavin, you played a lesser role in the group but, nonetheless, the scale and threat of the disorder was achieved by the willingness of people simply to take part.  I also note that, at the time of this offence, you were on bail from this court for a separate matter.  Having regard to your personal circumstances I will not impose any additional period in respect of that.  The sentence will be one of 16 months modified to 1 year.

Liam Coogans, you also played a lesser role but, again, lent your support to the group by joining it.  The sentence will be one of 16 months modified to 1 year. 

Football banning order

In the case of each of you I am satisfied that because of the nature of the offence which you have committed and the fact that it was related to a football match, it is appropriate to impose on you a Football Banning Order for the purpose of preventing violence or disorder at or in connection with football matches.

You are banned from entering any football ground anywhere in the UK for the purposes of attending any football match involving any Scottish Professional Football League club; any English or Welsh League club; any club from the English Conference or any international match in Scotland, England or Wales.

This ban also extends to non-domestic premises in which such matches are being televised and journeys to and from matches.

Further, in relation to any matches in the UK which are part of FIFA or UEFA competitions and in relation to international or club matches outside the UK involving British national or domestic teams, you must report to a police station if required so to do by notice from the police and you must surrender your passport to the police if required.

Andrew Campbell and John Devine, the ban will be for a period of 8 years.

Thomas Slavin and Liam Coogans, in your case the ban will be for a period of 4 years.

In your case, Mr Coogans, the ban will not apply to you when training or playing in a professional capacity.

Within five days from today, you must report to the police station specified in the order.

You must also notify Police Scotland, within seven days, of any change of your name, address or passport.

Breach of this order is a separate criminal offence for which you would be liable to prosecution."

18 May 2026