Rioting soccer fans caused £17,000 worth of damage during last month's Irish League match between Linfield and Glentoran at Windsor Park, a Belfast court heard yesterday. A prosecuting lawyer said most of the damage was caused when fans ripped up and smashed seats. Four men, said to be Glentoran fans, pleaded guilty before the magistrate, Mr Tom Travers.
Gordon Priestley (23), from Oakland Drive, Carrickfergus, was fined £50 for causing criminal damage and ordered to pay £150 compensation. He was fined £750 for assaulting a Linfield fan, causing him actual bodily harm.
James Stevenson (45), of Mark Street, and Richard Stevenson (19), of Chesterbrook Crescent, both in Newtownards, were said to have been involved in the same assault but to a lesser extent. The father and son were fined £750 and £400 respectively.
The fourth defendant, William Martin, of Vicarage Street, Belfast, was fined £150 for disorderly behaviour.