Men Jailed For Sending Bombs To Celtic Boss

Two men have been jailed for five years each for sending nail bombs to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and high-profile Celtic supporters.

Neil McKenzie and Trevor Muirhead were convicted of conspiracy to assault after Jiffy bags containing bottles of potentially explosive liquid, a timer and dozens of nails were sent through the post.

In sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lord Turnbull said: "You are both good hard working men with stable and supportive families.

"It is incomprehensible why you did what you did....I cannot fathom what was going through your minds."

The trial heard how Muirhead, 44, and McKenzie, 42, from North Ayrshire, posted what they believed to be explosive devices, intending to cause injury.

During the five-week trial the jury heard how in March last year they conspired to assault Lennon, former MSP Trish Godman and the late Paul McBride QC.

Five suspicious packages containing nails and "electronic devices", were intercepted.

Two parcels were addressed to Lennon, but were intercepted by Royal Mail staff; as were the parcels sent to Mr McBride, an open supporter of Celtic Football Club, and the Friends of Ireland organisation.

A parcel sent to Ms Godman was intercepted by a member of staff at her constituency office.

The jury heard how none of the devices were viable but the prosecution said both the accused believed four of them were capable of exploding.

Muirhead, from Kilwinning, and McKenzie, from Saltcoats, denied the charges throughout the trial.

The pair were originally accused of conspiring to murder but the charge was thrown out due to insufficient evidence.

McKenzie was also sentenced to 18 months, which will run at the same time as his five-year sentence, after being found guilty of a separate charge of posting a hoax bomb to Lennon at Celtic Park to make him believe it was likely to explode.

Muirhead was cleared of the charge with a not proven verdict.

Giving evidence during the trial, Lennon said he was left "very disturbed" after finding out he had been targeted.