VIDEO OF CARDIFF/ASTON VILA FANS FIGHTING / VERDICTS
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2018 1:57 pm
Updated Friday 9th November 2018
VIDEO OF VILLA FANS KICKING ONE CARDIFF FAN ON THE FLOOR
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wale ... l-15390244
UPDATED:
Wednesday 7th November 2018
TODAYS VERDICTS AT CARDIFF CROWN COURT: CARDIFF & ASTON VILLA FANS
Aston Villa fan Paul Sweeney, 32, was convicted by a jury today.
His co-defendants Steven Fowler Villa fan, of Cottage Lane, Sutton Coldfield was found not guilty of violent disorder.
Cardiff fans Dominic Burgess, 36, of Porthcawl and Rob Moore of Cardiff were found not guilty of violent disorder.
Three other Cardiff fans and one Villa fan were cleared at an earlier trial.
Five other defendants who were convicted following a previous trial, as well as a man who admitted his part in the incident, are also due to be sentenced on December 10th.
Aston Villa fan brandished whisky bottle in fight at Cardiff pub
Cardiff Crown Court
By Court Reporter Will Haywood
Wednesday 7th November 2018
An Aston Villa fan has been found guilty of violent disorder at a pub in Cardiff after his team were beaten by Cardiff City last year.
Paul Sweeney, 32, was convicted by a jury on Wednesday following a trial a Cardiff Crown Court over his part in a clash between Villa and Bluebirds supporters outside The Cornwall pub in Grangetown on August 12, 2017.
His co-defendants Steven Fowler, of Cottage Lane, Sutton Coldfield, and Dominic Burgess, 36, of Woodland Avenue, Porthcawl, were found not guilty of violent disorder.
Prosecutor James Wilson previously told the court that “punches, kicks and bottles were thrown” during the incident in which Villa fans got off a bus and tried to enter the pub frequented by Cardiff City fans.
The disorder was caught inside the pub and outside on the streets on CCTV.
Sweeney said he and other Villa fans had good-natured banter with Cardiff fans after leaving the match.
“We went to the match but left just before half time when we were 2-0 down,” he said.
“I’d had enough, we were terrible.”
Sweeney was later seen with two objects in his hands shouting towards the pub with his arms outstretched.
He claimed the objects were a plastic cup and half a bottle of Jack Daniels for the trip home to Birmingham and said he did not want to get involved in the fracas.
But his account was not believed by the jury who found him guilty in an unanimous verdict.
Sweeney, who sat stony faced in the dock as the verdicts were read out, had previously been made subject to a football banning order prior to the incident in Cardiff.
Judge Neil Bidder QC granted the defendant unconditional bail but told him that “all sentencing options were open” to him, including imprisonment.
Sweeney, of Knightcote Drive, Solihull, will appear at Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing on December 10.
Five other defendants who were convicted following a previous trial, as well as a man who admitted his part in the incident, are also due to be sentenced.
Football fans claim they were acting as peacemakers during brawl
20 Villa fans arrived at a Cardiff Public house two hours after the match had finished.
Cardiff Crown Court
By Court Reporter Will Haywood
Tuesday 6th November 2018
Two Aston Villa fans accused of violent disorder after a Cardiff City match have claimed they were acting as peacemakers.
Villa fans Steven Fowler and Paul Sweeney, along with Bluebirds fan Dominic Burgess, are on trial in connection with the incident at The Cornwall pub in Grangetown, Cardiff, on the evening of August 12 last year.
They all deny violent disorder.
Fowler and Sweeney said they had left the game before halftime after a “terrible” performance from their team and had been drinking in the city centre.
Sweeney, 32, from Knightcote Drive in Solihull, said they’d had good-natured banter with Cardiff fans after leaving the match.
“We went to the match but left just before half time when we were 2-0 down," he said.
“I’d had enough, we were terrible."
“We got a taxi to St Mary Street from a pub near the ground."
“We went into a few pubs there, had a couple of drinks, and watched the results come in.
“There were Cardiff City fans in the pubs and it was fun."
“We then got a taxi to back to The Packet where we drank for another hour."
“We then got on the bus at The Packet where we expected to be going back to Birmingham."
“I was not aware it was going to stop at the pub (The Cornwall).”
In CCTV shown to Cardiff Crown Court Sweeney was seen with two objects in his hands shouting towards the pub with his arms outstretched.
“I had a plastic cup and half a bottle of Jack Daniels which was for the way home,” he said.
“Glass bottles and pint glasses were being thrown at me – I was a bit angry.
“I didn’t want to get involved so I was angry they were throwing glasses at me.
“I asked them: ‘Why are you throwing bottles at me? I am not doing anything’.
“I was telling everyone to get on the bus – I wanted to get out of there.”
Prosecutor James Wilson said to Sweeney: “You were part of a group that you knew full well were intent on causing violence?”
Sweeney replied: “I caused no violence and I threw no bottles.”
Mr Wilson added: “By having those objects you are inciting violence.”
Sweeney responded: “That is your opinion.”
The court heard Fowler, 49, from Cottage Lane, Sutton Coldfield, had three previous convictions for violent offences, two of which were football-related. These were in 2004 and 2005 and Fowler told the court he had not attended many football matches since.
Following questioning from his advocate Gary Bell he confirmed he was the managing director of a company that installs suspended ceilings employing almost 20 staff including freelancers.
The father of two also said his father had died from cancer a week before the incident.
When asked by Mr Bell how he reacted to the violence he said he was trying to calm the situation.
He told the court: “People were asking to stop at a shop. When the bus stopped I wanted to go to the toilet.
“I didn’t see the initial violence because I was looking for my son.
“I was telling [my son] Craig to stop.
“I was shouting at Cardiff City fans to get back in the pub and that I will get them [the Aston Villa fans] back on the coach.”
Mr Wilson asked Fowler how the coach, which was supposed to be going to Birmingham, ended up in Grangetown.
Fowler replied: “I haven’t got a clue.”
Mr Wilson asked: “It is just a coincidence it stopped near a Cardiff City pub?”
Fowler said: “I can’t help you with that."
Mr Wilson then asked: “Why didn’t you grab your son and go back to the bus?”
Fowler said: “People were throwing bottles. I was more focused on that."
During both men's initial interviews they both answered “no comment” to all questions.
When questioned why they didn’t answer Sweeney said: “Because I was nervous, to be honest with you.”
Fowler said it was after legal advice from his lawyer.
All three men deny violent disorder.
The trial continues.
Paul Sweeney leaving court
VIDEO OF VILLA FANS KICKING ONE CARDIFF FAN ON THE FLOOR
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wale ... l-15390244
UPDATED:
Wednesday 7th November 2018
TODAYS VERDICTS AT CARDIFF CROWN COURT: CARDIFF & ASTON VILLA FANS
Aston Villa fan Paul Sweeney, 32, was convicted by a jury today.
His co-defendants Steven Fowler Villa fan, of Cottage Lane, Sutton Coldfield was found not guilty of violent disorder.
Cardiff fans Dominic Burgess, 36, of Porthcawl and Rob Moore of Cardiff were found not guilty of violent disorder.
Three other Cardiff fans and one Villa fan were cleared at an earlier trial.
Five other defendants who were convicted following a previous trial, as well as a man who admitted his part in the incident, are also due to be sentenced on December 10th.
Aston Villa fan brandished whisky bottle in fight at Cardiff pub
Cardiff Crown Court
By Court Reporter Will Haywood
Wednesday 7th November 2018
An Aston Villa fan has been found guilty of violent disorder at a pub in Cardiff after his team were beaten by Cardiff City last year.
Paul Sweeney, 32, was convicted by a jury on Wednesday following a trial a Cardiff Crown Court over his part in a clash between Villa and Bluebirds supporters outside The Cornwall pub in Grangetown on August 12, 2017.
His co-defendants Steven Fowler, of Cottage Lane, Sutton Coldfield, and Dominic Burgess, 36, of Woodland Avenue, Porthcawl, were found not guilty of violent disorder.
Prosecutor James Wilson previously told the court that “punches, kicks and bottles were thrown” during the incident in which Villa fans got off a bus and tried to enter the pub frequented by Cardiff City fans.
The disorder was caught inside the pub and outside on the streets on CCTV.
Sweeney said he and other Villa fans had good-natured banter with Cardiff fans after leaving the match.
“We went to the match but left just before half time when we were 2-0 down,” he said.
“I’d had enough, we were terrible.”
Sweeney was later seen with two objects in his hands shouting towards the pub with his arms outstretched.
He claimed the objects were a plastic cup and half a bottle of Jack Daniels for the trip home to Birmingham and said he did not want to get involved in the fracas.
But his account was not believed by the jury who found him guilty in an unanimous verdict.
Sweeney, who sat stony faced in the dock as the verdicts were read out, had previously been made subject to a football banning order prior to the incident in Cardiff.
Judge Neil Bidder QC granted the defendant unconditional bail but told him that “all sentencing options were open” to him, including imprisonment.
Sweeney, of Knightcote Drive, Solihull, will appear at Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing on December 10.
Five other defendants who were convicted following a previous trial, as well as a man who admitted his part in the incident, are also due to be sentenced.
Football fans claim they were acting as peacemakers during brawl
20 Villa fans arrived at a Cardiff Public house two hours after the match had finished.
Cardiff Crown Court
By Court Reporter Will Haywood
Tuesday 6th November 2018
Two Aston Villa fans accused of violent disorder after a Cardiff City match have claimed they were acting as peacemakers.
Villa fans Steven Fowler and Paul Sweeney, along with Bluebirds fan Dominic Burgess, are on trial in connection with the incident at The Cornwall pub in Grangetown, Cardiff, on the evening of August 12 last year.
They all deny violent disorder.
Fowler and Sweeney said they had left the game before halftime after a “terrible” performance from their team and had been drinking in the city centre.
Sweeney, 32, from Knightcote Drive in Solihull, said they’d had good-natured banter with Cardiff fans after leaving the match.
“We went to the match but left just before half time when we were 2-0 down," he said.
“I’d had enough, we were terrible."
“We got a taxi to St Mary Street from a pub near the ground."
“We went into a few pubs there, had a couple of drinks, and watched the results come in.
“There were Cardiff City fans in the pubs and it was fun."
“We then got a taxi to back to The Packet where we drank for another hour."
“We then got on the bus at The Packet where we expected to be going back to Birmingham."
“I was not aware it was going to stop at the pub (The Cornwall).”
In CCTV shown to Cardiff Crown Court Sweeney was seen with two objects in his hands shouting towards the pub with his arms outstretched.
“I had a plastic cup and half a bottle of Jack Daniels which was for the way home,” he said.
“Glass bottles and pint glasses were being thrown at me – I was a bit angry.
“I didn’t want to get involved so I was angry they were throwing glasses at me.
“I asked them: ‘Why are you throwing bottles at me? I am not doing anything’.
“I was telling everyone to get on the bus – I wanted to get out of there.”
Prosecutor James Wilson said to Sweeney: “You were part of a group that you knew full well were intent on causing violence?”
Sweeney replied: “I caused no violence and I threw no bottles.”
Mr Wilson added: “By having those objects you are inciting violence.”
Sweeney responded: “That is your opinion.”
The court heard Fowler, 49, from Cottage Lane, Sutton Coldfield, had three previous convictions for violent offences, two of which were football-related. These were in 2004 and 2005 and Fowler told the court he had not attended many football matches since.
Following questioning from his advocate Gary Bell he confirmed he was the managing director of a company that installs suspended ceilings employing almost 20 staff including freelancers.
The father of two also said his father had died from cancer a week before the incident.
When asked by Mr Bell how he reacted to the violence he said he was trying to calm the situation.
He told the court: “People were asking to stop at a shop. When the bus stopped I wanted to go to the toilet.
“I didn’t see the initial violence because I was looking for my son.
“I was telling [my son] Craig to stop.
“I was shouting at Cardiff City fans to get back in the pub and that I will get them [the Aston Villa fans] back on the coach.”
Mr Wilson asked Fowler how the coach, which was supposed to be going to Birmingham, ended up in Grangetown.
Fowler replied: “I haven’t got a clue.”
Mr Wilson asked: “It is just a coincidence it stopped near a Cardiff City pub?”
Fowler said: “I can’t help you with that."
Mr Wilson then asked: “Why didn’t you grab your son and go back to the bus?”
Fowler said: “People were throwing bottles. I was more focused on that."
During both men's initial interviews they both answered “no comment” to all questions.
When questioned why they didn’t answer Sweeney said: “Because I was nervous, to be honest with you.”
Fowler said it was after legal advice from his lawyer.
All three men deny violent disorder.
The trial continues.
Paul Sweeney leaving court