Two English fans have been given suspended sentences in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday for their part in the riot at the Republic of Ireland soccer international against England in 1995. As a result of his involvement in the riot, one of the accused, Jason Ankers, was physically assaulted in London and the off-licence where he worked was attacked. His co-accused, Colin G. McNulty, had to withdraw from a successful timber business in which he was a partner because of the publicity surrounding the case, the court was told.
Ankers (25), of Polmear Road, Par, in Cornwall, and McNulty (32), of Broadoak Way, Cheltenham, pleaded guilty to rioting in the upper west stand at Lansdowne Road on February 15th, 1995. The match, a friendly, was abandoned as a result of the violence.
Det Sgt Patrick Keane said 86 people had been charged in connection with the riot and only one case was outstanding. None of the previous 83 defendants received a significant prison sentence.
Mr Patrick Marrinan, defending, told Judge Cyril Kelly that both Ankers and McNulty had suffered "contempt and ridicule" within their own communities for what they had done.
Ankers was given a one-year suspended sentence and fined £3,000; McNulty was given a three-year suspended sentence and fined £5,000. The fines are to be paid to the St Anthony's conference of St Vincent de Paul. Both defendants were also banned from entering the State for 10 years.
Det Sgt Keane told Mr Fergal Foley, prosecuting, there was no connection between Ankers and McNulty and no evidence to suggest they were part of an organised group of rioters. Both men had cooperated with gardai, he said.
Mr Marrinan said McNulty, who was a partner in a timber company at the time, had been in Ireland on business when he attended the match. He added his client had done the "honourable thing" and had withdrawn from the business as a result of the publicity following the riot.
Both McNulty and Ankers have been banned from the English Supporters' Club. Ankers has also been banned from the Manchester United supporters' club.