Two of the four football supporters from Dublin, all of whom were jailed last month when they admitted their involvement in disturbances inside and outside a city centre bar in Derry, failed yesterday in their appeal against sentencing.
Affirming the sentence imposed at the lower court on October 10th, Judge Philip Babington yesterday described the appellants' actions as "deliberate and cowardly".
Evan Kane (20), Upper Dorset Street, and Gavin James Hanly (22), a part-time security company employee from McKee Park, were both jailed for three months last month along with Francis O'Reilly (29), a local authority employee from Clonturk Park, and Brian Shannon (20), of Ventry Drive, Cabra.
All four admitted charges of riotous behaviour at the Tavern Bar in the loyalist Fountain Estate in Derry on October 9th. O'Reilly and Shannon decided not to appeal against the sentence and they are serving their sentences.
They had travelled to Derry for the League Cup final between Derry City and Bohemians.
At the appeal hearing yesterday, defence barrister Gordon Talbot said Hanley and Kane deeply regretted their actions. He said Hanly's employer was still willing "to take him back".
Mr Talbot told the court that Kane was a "very talented footballer".
Dismissing the appeal, Judge Babington said the appellants had admitted causing several thousand pounds of criminal damage during an attack on a bar in which three people were injured. He said they also smashed windows in the bar, following which "people came in through the broken windows".
Hanly was brought to Maghaberry Prison and Kane to the Hydebank Young Offenders Centre.