Glasgow University has confirmed that the two students convicted of attacking Celtic football player Neil Lennon have been called to a disciplinary hearing later this month. If found guilty, the pair face a maximum penalty of expulsion from the university.....

Neil MacLeod, a 20-year-old law student, was last month fined a total of £700 for breach of the peace and for assaulting the sports star. Gregg Miller, a 20-year-old medical student, was fined £200 and convicted of breach of the peace. Both pleaded guilty to the charges after Miller had initially denied them at a preliminary hearing in June, at which MacLeod had failed to appear.

The incident took place on 8th May on Great Western Road when the students spotted the Northern Irishman driving past in his BMW. They chased after the car and started shouting abuse, calling Lennon, 32, a “fucking scumbag” and a “dick”. The footballer reportedly rolled down his window and shouted: “I might be a scumbag, but I’ll still be a millionaire in the morning”. The pair were charged in court with shouting sectarian abuse but pleaded not guilty on that count and were cleared. Lennon made to drive off but got stuck at the traffic lights and after comments were made about his wife, got out of the car and confronted his tormentors. At this point MacLeod headbutted the Celtic star, causing a small head wound, and both fell to the ground.

Since the incident Miller, who turned himself over to the police soon after it had happened, has received hate mail and is deeply regretful of his actions, according to his lawyer, David Hall. “He is sorry for what happened and accepts the concern it has caused for everyone, including his parents,” Hall stated. Peter Watson, defending MacLeod, said it was “a classic misjudgement involving young men and alcohol”. He claimed the student’s assault on Lennon was “like a rag doll taking on a tuned athlete”.

The decision to proceed with an internal investigation came after a complaint was made to the Senate Disciplinary Committee, which possesses no automatic right to investigate students for incidents that occur off campus. An initial meeting last Thursday concluded that MacLeod and Miller should appear before a full hearing of the committee. The pair face individual interviews with senior Senate disciplinary assessor Chris Gilmour, when he returns from working abroad on 21st October. The Senate is also understood to be taking advice from both the Law and Medicine faculties in an “information seeking process”, to assess the possible impact on the careers of both students following their convictions.

Meanwhile, Lennon, who has been a source of controversy since he arrived at Celtic, was investigated by the SFA following an incident at a football match where he stuck his finger up at opposition supporters. A spokeswoman for Celtic FC said all incidents involving Lennon were private and commenting on the disciplinary investigation said it was “a matter for the university”.