Parcel bomb is only latest threat to Neil Lennon

Controversial Celtic football manager Neil Lennon is once again at the centre of a political storm after a "viable" letter bomb was posted to him, and other devices were sent to his lawyer Paul McBride QC and Trish Godman a Celtic-supporting member of the Scottish parliament.

The parcels, at first thought to be hoaxes, were all intercepted earlier this month and police now say that they were sent with the intention to "maim, injure or kill".

The latest incidents come against a backdrop of renewed violence in Northern Ireland and increasing tensions between Glasgow's two main football clubs, Celtic - supported by Catholics - and Protestant Rangers. Police say they are concerned about the possibility of some kind of attack when the two clubs play each other over Easter.

Although the motives of the bomber are unknown, Superintendent John Cuddihy of the Strathclyde Police said: "We fear that this person will react to something that is said in the run-up to Sunday's Old Firm game that will cause them to act again."

It is not the first time Lennon, who is a Catholic from Northern Ireland, has found himself caught up in a situation where religion and politics in Scotland and Ireland meets footballing fanaticism.

As a player, Lennon represented his country 40 times, but many fans were outraged by the idea of a Catholic playing for Northern Ireland. He stoked the fires by once announcing that he would rather play for a united Ireland.

In 2002 his career was cut short after he was chosen to captain his country against Cyprus, but was forced to withdraw from the game after death threats were made against him. He never played for Northern Ireland again.

In 2008 Lennon, who played for Celtic for seven years, was attacked in Glasgow and needed hospital treatment. Two male Rangers fans were charged with assault aggravated by religious prejudice. Those charges were later dropped, but the pair were still jailed for assault.

When he retired as a player he joined the coaching staff at Celtic and was made manager at the end of the 2010 season. However, he remained a controversial figure and his reign has coincided with increasing tension between Celtic and their arch rivals, Rangers.

Away from the politics of Scottish football, Lennon's prickly attitude towards referees prompted officials to threaten strike action over the "disrespect" shown towards them last year.

Since then the flashpoints have come thick and fast. Early this year Lennon and two of his players, Niall McGinn and Paddy McCourt, also both Catholics from Northern Ireland, were sent packages containing bullets. The parcels were intercepted by the Royal Mail.

In February, Loyalist paramilitaries made death threats against Lennon after he allegedly "mouthed off" at the nine-year-old nephew of a UDA member following an Old Firm game.

Days later, Lennon got involved in a touchline fight with Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist after a Scottish Cup tie between the two sides in March.

That game ended in a draw and the replay at Celtic Park was one of the most bad-tempered Old Firm games for many years. There were three red cards in the match and several confrontations on the touch-line and in the tunnel. Police made 34 arrests inside Celtic Park and 187 outside. ·