'Find the thug who did this to my son': Mum of boy bottled at first Old Firm game tells Celtic fan to hand himself in
Kraig, 11, missed his Old Firm game after being rushed to hospital
MONDAY 24 OCT 2016
BY DEBBIE JACKSON
KRAIG Mackay needed seven stitches in his head when a bottle thrown by a Celtic fan hit him on the head as he walked to Hampden yesterday afternoon.
THE Mum of an 11-year-old boy hit by a bottle on the way to his first Old Firm game is begging the person who did it to hand himself in.
11-year-old Rangers fan Kraig Mackay from Dennistoun was looking forward to the match at Hampden as the Gers met Celtic at Hampden Park.
But the football-daft boy never made it to the game, instead being rushed in an ambulance to get treatment for a gash to his head.
Kraig, 11, missed his Old Firm game after being rushed to hospital
His mum Laura Mackay wants to show everyone pictures of her son's horrific injury to try to persuade the perpetrator to hand himself in to police.
Laura, 30, told the Daily Record, "I am livid.
"Someone needs to be punished for this and maybe make the fan think twice about doing something like this again.
"Maybe he has a kid himself. I want him to see the state Kraig was in. How would he feel if this was his boy?"
Kraig was going to the game with his uncle Marc Mackay and Aunt Shona Renicks on the Rutherglen 20 Club supporters bus.
Rangers fan, 11, rushed to hospital after being hit in head by bottle outside Hampden
It was to be his first Old Firm game.
Laura explained the bus broke down on Curtis Avenue close to Hampden Park and the fans walked the rest of the way.
Kraig hadn't wanted to walk but his aunt had persuaded him.
The incident happened on Curtis Avenue near Aitkenhead Road
Shona had been kicked by a police horse that was accompanying the fans to the stadium and Marc was dealing with this when he turned around and saw Kraig covered in blood.
Celtic fans had apparently left the Montford House Bar on the other side of the road and started shouting at the Rangers supporters.
Laura said, "The police were there ad took him to medics who sent him to the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in an ambulance.
"He was X-rayed to check there was no glass left in the wound and he got seven stitches."
Kraig needed seven stitches
Laura admitted this was the first time she felt Kraig was old enough to go to an Old Firm game.
He has been a season ticket holder at Ibrox for several years.
And that the thing Kraig was most upset about was that he got blood on his late grandad's neck chain.
"Kraig's grandad Edward died two years ago and left him his Rangers chain. Kraig wears it to every match.
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"He says he's not put off going to the matches, he was just upset he got blood on his grandad's chain."
Kraig's Aunt Shona took to Facebook to condemn the fans who caused the trouble,
She said, " It's a terrible day when two sets of supporters can't put their differences behind them and come together to support their teams in peace.
Kraig's scarf was caked in blood
"What was a peaceful walk to Hampden turned into a police horse kicking off and knocking me to the ground, followed by a glass bottle being thrown across the road by Celtic fans and hitting Marc's nephew on the head.
"Religion, hatred and anything else should never be brought into it, especially when families and kids are involved. You should never head out to a football match and feel as terrified as we did this afternoon."
She also shared a photo of Kraig's scarf covered in blood.
Laura says Kraig will go back to see his beloved Rangers again and understands that there are good fans, and some idiots out there too.
He was upset at missing the chance to see his favourite players Barry McKay and Andy Halliday in action against Celtic.
The youngster was gutted that he had to miss the game
Laura says, "We're going to spoil him and he's already asking for a new Playstation Game and Fifa points.
"But I want this never to happen to anyone else again."
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Around 1400 hours on Sunday, October 23, an 11-year-old boy sustained a head injury after being hit by a bottle whilst walking along Aitkenhead Road, Mount Florida.
“He was taken by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for treatment.
“Details of the seriousness of any injury is not know at this time but it is not thought to be serious.
“Inquiries into the incident are ongoing.”
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