Man accused of Ibrox bomb hoax while Celtic trailed Rangers

By PA Reporter

A man from Northern Ireland rang Ibrox as Celtic were losing to Rangers to report a bomb at the stadium, a court has heard.

James Joseph Doherty, 34, from Carnhill in Londonderry, is charged with making the bomb hoax during an Old Firm derby on May 12 2019.

Rangers won the Scottish Premiership encounter 2-0 with goals from James Tavernier and Scott Arfield.

The case was mentioned during a sitting of Derry Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

A defence lawyer outlined the allegation.

“It’s a hoax bomb case where the allegation is that Celtic were getting beat, he rang Ibrox and said there was a bomb at the stadium,” he said.

“I don’t think it affected the result, if my memory is right.”

The solicitor said his client had made “admissions at interview” and suggested a guilty plea was likely.

But he added: “For some reason I’m not absolutely in a position to confirm that.”

The lawyer told district judge Barney McElholm if the charge was contested it would be a relatively short hearing, based on the legal papers in the case.

“What I can say is, if it’s not a plea, it’ll be a very short contest on the papers,” he said.

The solicitor asked for the case to be adjourned for two weeks.

Judge McElholm listed the matter to be heard again on November 19.