A Rangers fan who carried out a brutal sectarian attack after celebrating her team’s title success has walked free from court. Catherine Duffy punched, kicked and stamped on an innocent train passenger, breaking her leg in two places.
The victim, 20-year-old Cayla Dyer, still suffers pain 17 months on and is awaiting further surgery. She hit out this week after watching Duffy, 19, being placed on a community payback order for what a sheriff branded “unacceptable” behaviour.
Duffy appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court following the attack at Sunnyside train station in Coatbridge, on May 15 last year. She admitted an assault aggravated by religious prejudice that caused Cayla severe injury and permanent impairment.
It happened hours after Rangers had thumped Aberdeen 4-0 to end a historic season unbeaten. Cayla, a debt adviser, and a friend were waiting at the busy station to take a train to Glasgow when she was attacked by Duffy, who was draped in a Rangers flag.
She said: “It all happened very quickly. A sectarian slur was shouted. I think Duffy thought it was me calling her a name but it wasn’t. I’m not that kind of person.”
Cayla was left in agony on the platform after she was pulled to the ground, punched and kicked repeatedly and stamped on. She was taken to hospital where medics found both her fibia and tibia had been fractured.
Cayla said: “I went through an operation and a metal rod and pins were put in my leg. I was in hospital for 10 days and then on crutches for weeks. I couldn’t go back to work until August.
“Even now, my leg is sore and I can’t walk for long periods of time. I used to enjoy running but I can’t do that now. I’m due to get further surgery in the next month or so and the doctor hopes that will help.
“The whole experience has also resulted in me struggling with my mental health – my confidence has been affected.”
Duffy was sentenced last week, having pleaded guilty to the charge in August. Sheriff Fergus Thomson had asked the Crown to provide an update on Kayla’s medical situation but, although she gave a written statement in time for the hearing, this could not be located.
The sheriff proceeded to sentence Duffy without seeing the information. That angered Cayla’s mum, Lindsay, so much that she left the court without waiting to learn the fate of her daughter’s attacker.
Defence agent Hugh Trainor said Duffy, of Wishaw, is “totally contrite”, adding: “This was not a premeditated assault and she totally regrets the injuries suffered by the complainer. She has issues in her life and these can be addressed by a community payback order.”
Sheriff Thomson told Duffy, who gave birth last month: “Your behaviour was completely unacceptable but you have no record and there is an alternative to custody.”
She was given an 18-month supervision order and must complete 100 hours of unpaid community work. The sentence dismayed Cayla, who said: “She’s more or less got away with breaking my leg. To be given 100 hours of work for that, I’m definitely not happy with the outcome.”
The Crown Office said details of Kayla’s injuries were narrated in court in August.
A spokesman said: “We understand how stressful and upsetting the court process can be and offer support and information through our Victim Information and Advice service. VIA representatives were in contact with the complainer throughout the prosecution process.”
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