Officer who was blinded in one eye by Manchester United protester 'had never been so scared'

Jonathan Gallagher had a glass bottle thrown at him by a protester, and was one of 35 officers who were assaulted during the riot. Credit: PA Images

A police officer who was hit in the face by a glass bottle said he’d ‘never been so scared’ after the attack saw him temporarily lose sight in one eye

Jonathan Gallagher, a Greater Manchester Police officer with 16 years experience, was one of 35 officers who were assaulted during a protest outside Old Trafford on 2 May 2021.

Sam McNulty threw the bottle as protesters descended ahead of a Premier League clash between Manchester United and Liverpool.

The game, which was due to be played behind closed doors due to Covid regulations at the time, was eventually abandoned due to security concerns after some demonstrators broke through perimeters at the ground and invaded the pitch.

Up to 2,000 people attended the ground to voice their protest against the ownership of the club by the Glazer family and rumours United were considering joining a European super league. Bottles and cans were thrown. In total, 35 assaults against officers and security staff were recorded.

Fans were held in a fenced off area outside the stadium.

Jonathan was part of a team of officers dealing with the trouble at Old Trafford that day, and was left with the most serious injuries.

One of the protesters, 29-year-old telecommunications worker McNulty, had thrown a can which hit a wall near officers.

McNulty, who is from The Wirral in Merseyside, then put his hood up, picked a glass bottle from the floor and threw it.

Standing about 10 metres away, the bottle hit PC Gallagher to the face. He recalled ‘everything going black’ and feeling ‘terrified’ that he couldn’t see out of his left eye.

He said: “I have never been so scared as I was when I couldn’t see out of my left eye,

“I really thought I had lost my sight.”

Fans were protesting against the Glazers' ownership of the club. Credit: PA Images

He bled heavily from a cut to his face and was rushed to hospital. The sight in his eye resumed shortly after, but he has suffered permanent scarring and ongoing health issues, including sleeping problems.

McNulty was arrested and provided a prepared statement to police, in which he said he thought he was attending a peaceful protest, which he went to for a ‘day out’. He said he became aware of the incident and said he did not know why he got involved.

He accepted throwing the two items but said he wasn’t aiming for anybody and had no intent to cause injury. McNulty also said he wished to apologise for his actions. He pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding at the magistrates court in 2021.

He denied the more serious charge of wounding with intent and was eventually found not guilty by a jury.

At his sentencing on Friday 15 November, the judge, Recorder Karen Ridge, told McNulty: “It has been accepted by this court that you didn’t intend to cause harm to PC Gallagher, but you did cause him harm. There can be no doubt that this incident had had a profound effect on PC Gallagher.

“The incident must have been truly terrifying. PC Gallagher is a public servant. It is shocking that he has sustained such a terrible injury during the course of a normal working day. On that day he thought he had lost his sight. This is a dedicated police officer with 16 years service who now suffers flashbacks.”

35 officers were assaulted during the protest. Credit: PA Images

Defending, Eve Salter said that McNulty has remained in full time work since 2021, and has been involved in no further trouble since. She said that at trial McNulty repeatedly told jurors how 'appalling’ his actions were and stated how regretful he is.

She said: “He has never shied away from his involvement in these offences."

Ms Salter said the delays were not the defendant’s fault, and appealed for him to be spared from a prison sentence.

The judge agreed, noting that McNulty had no previous convictions and ruling he is capable of being rehabilitated, describing him as a ‘productive member of society. “There is no public interest at this time in sending you to prison,” Recorder Ridge said.

McNulty, of Windermere Road, Prenton, Wirral, was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. He was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work, ten rehabilitation activity requirement days, and observe a curfew from 8pm to 6am for four months. He was also ordered to pay PC Gallagher £5,000 in compensation.

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