Hearts have been forced to apologise after displaying an image of loyalist killer Michael Stone on their big screen.

Images of Stone were projected onto the TV screen after Hearts requested fans to send in photos, and it seems as if the football club was tricked into displaying the image.

An X user posted to the Hearts page, “My mate michaels first game in years, here’s a old photo of him coming through the turnstiles”.

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The post had a picture of Stone taken in 1998 while leaving Maze Prison on temporary release.

And Hearts came out to apologise after the image appeared on their screens.

In a statement, they said: “Our fans’ social service was abused by someone online, leading to an image appearing on the stadium’s big screens, and we apologise for any offence caused.

“We will review our procedures internally to ensure this type of misuse is not repeated.”

Stone was released from prison in 2000 under the Good Friday Agreement but served jail time after killing three Catholic civilians in a gun and grenade attack in 1988. He also was convicted of three killings between 1984 and 1987.

He returned to jail in 2006 after turning up to Stormont in an attempt to kill Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness and was released on parole in 2021.

Celtic continued their winning ways in Tynecastle Stadium, beating Hearts 4-1 on the night. Star forward Kyogo Furuhashi opened the scoring in the 55th minute before the lead was doubled five minutes later courtesy of Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn.

Ireland’s Adam Idah bagged himself a brace after coming off from the bench, scoring in the 78th and 94th minute.

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