Hibs and Hearts fans in machete clash over Proclaimers song

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William Edwards ran out of his home clutching the large kitchen knife after the Hearts supporters put his windows in following a derby match earlier this year.

Edwards, 45, had been listening the Scottish Cup tie between the Edinburgh teams when his brother decided to goad a passing group of Hearts fans by pinning a Hibs flag on his window.

Edwards’ sibling then played The Proclaimers famous anthem to further antagonise the rival fans resulting in bricks being hurled through the living room window.

The brothers then ran out into the street to challenge the group of Hearts fans with Edwards in possession of the knife but he was soon spotted by police officers who ordered him to drop the blade on the ground.

Sheriff Frank Crowe told Edwards he had been caught in the street with “a pretty fearsome implement” and caged him for 18 months when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday.

The court was told Edwards, his brother and a female had enjoyed watching the Edinburgh derby cup tie played at Tynecastle Stadium on February 7 this year.

Fiscal depute Roseanne Chapman said Edwards, from Edinburgh, had been spotted by police officers as he brandished the large kitchen knife” at the capital’s Gorgie Road around 7.30pm.

Solicitor Roy Harley, defending, said Edwards had been in the kitchen cutting cheese with the knife when he heard the flat’s windows being smashed.

Mr Harley said: “He and his brother and a female had spent the day listening to the Hearts Hibs football match and had been drinking all day.

“He went into the kitchen to make some toast and cheese and was using the implement to cut the cheese.

“He tells me his brother had pinned a Hibs flag on the window and was shouting at rival supporters and to add fuel to this behaviour he was playing Sunshine On Leith.

“This had the desired effect and bricks were thrown and the windows were completely put in.

“My client came rushing through and ran into the street and my client had this knife which he dropped instantly when asked to [by police].”

Sheriff Crowe said: “It is a pretty big kitchen knife verging on a machete.

“This is as serious as these charges get, running out into the street with a lethal weapon. In my view is there is no option for me but to impose a prison sentence.”

Edwards admitted to possessing a knife in a public place at Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, on February 7 this year.

The Scottish Cup tie between the Edinburgh teams finished 2-2 with Hibs going on to win the replay at Easter Road 1-0 nine days later.