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Brief outline
1 May 1985 Celtic 1-1 Rangers
Background
- Aitken penalty on 2 min; scored but retake ordered because ball moved;
- 2nd one saved off the Rangers keepers legs;
- 52 minutes Davie Cooper sent off (2nd yellow) for foul on Peter Grant;
- 71 minutes Dawson off for an off-the-ball against Johnston;
- 77 min penalty to Rangers Aitken handled
So an interesting game leading up to ensuing “riot”.
4000 plus Celtic fans exit via Janefield St. Crowded. (in the past many more had exited this way without problems)
- At some point a mounted police decides there is a ruck developing between opposing fans (denied by all subsequent statements by those involved). He orders 5 mounted police horses to charge through the crowd.
- ‘Balaclava’ style charge through absolute mobbed street. Mayhem results.
- They turn at the top of the street and charge back down again.
- People already panic-ed start in on police and second charge is met by coins and stones
- Police, not content and they call for backup – more mounties and plods arrive. 2 further charges follow. Open battle breaks out with police. Police start snatching people when full marias arrive. Numerous examples of excessive force in arrest. Many innocent bystanders nabbed.
- 100 yard of brick wall topped with steel railings collapses; people being let in and thru houses to get away from police, people handing kids up onto verandas to get them out the way
- 9 police injured including the original 5 mounties, 1 police with broken nose requiring hospital
- 39 fans injured, 10 requiring hospital treatment
- 69 arrests made (41 for breach of the peace – all the police figures confusing as it also includes arrests made inside the ground and pre-game also, 19 for carrying drink, 9 for minor offences.)
- Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Sir Patrick Hamill launches immediate full police enquiry.
- Kevin Kelly, Celtic Director, makes immediate call thru Celtic View for eye witness statements from those involved and gets statements from Janefield Street residents. Next 2 Celtic Views publish 4 pages of statements all stating that there was a peaceful but crowded exit before the police decided to charge.
- Results of Police Inquiry published December 1985 exonerate police – no action to be taken.
- Dennis Canavan raises question in House of Commons. Now alleged that 21 police injured and 12 “civilians”. Solicitor General for Scotland dismisses Canavan’s charges and 62 yet to appear at courts
- Celtic set up Police Liason Committee in January to meet regularly and later appoint Security Officer (ex-Strathclyde Police inspector)
- Independent action brought against Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police by Easterhouse solicitors on behalf of a young girl injured
From Hansard.
Complaints Against the Police
HC Deb 11 December 1985 vol 88 cc917-8 917
§ 46. Mr. Canavan
asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many complaints against the police have been submitted to procurators fiscal over the past 12 months; and how many have resulted in prosecutions.
§ The Solicitor-General for Scotland
In the past 12 months, a total of 1,093 complaints against the police have been submitted to procurators fiscal. Figures for 1985 available to 31 July show that 21 complaints have resulted in prosecution.
§ Mr. Canavan
Why have no prosecutions been brought against Strathclyde police, who, on 1 May this year, in Janefield Street near Celtic Park, caused fear, alarm, risk and injury to many people, including one of my constituents, by making repeated cavalry charges into hundreds of innocent people peacefully making their way home after a football match? If the Government are serious, even-handed and consistent about combatting violence at football matches, why should the police get away with behaviour that is worse than many forms of football hooliganism?
§ The Solicitor-General for Scotland
The hon. Gentleman and I must use words differently if he can describe the events of that afternoon as peaceful. Not only were 21 police officers injured, but 12 civilians were injured, one police officer was rendered unconscious and required plastic surgery, and a teacher who assisted a police sergeant was seriously injured and required intensive hospital treatment. In those circumstances, and against the background of the fact that about 62 people are yet to be prosecuted and brought before the courts in relation to the events of that afternoon, it is inappropriate for me to make any further comment on the matter. However, I inform the hon. Gentleman that only two specific complaints were made to the procurator fiscal about police conduct that afternoon. I am aware that a broader and more general criticism has been made of the use of police horses that afternoon, but Crown counsel has said that no proceedings will be taken in respect of that.
