Celtic manager Neil Lennon has confirmed that the club has punished striker Anthony Stokes for attending a function for the murdered  Real IRA leader Alan Ryan.

By Declan Whooley

Lennon has said that the decision by Stokes to attend the funeral in September damaged the club. In a club and city where religious and political emotions create a strong undercurrent, it was an incident that drew stinging criticism.

The striker controversially attended a benefit function for Ryan, who was murdered last September, at a Dublin pub and has been warned of his future conduct.

“We spoke to him (Stokes) internally,” said Lennon. “I am not going to moralise to him, but you cannot damage the reputation of the club. He is aware of that now. It has been dealt with internally.”

Stokes has been out of action since August with an ankle injury, but scored 40 goals for the Bhoys in his first two seasons at Parkhead.

Struggling to regain fitness, his political connections and Celtic’s success on the pitch may result in Stokes finding it difficult to return to first-team action as quickly as he would have hoped.