Celtic Fans Escape Prosecution

[Jim44]

A sheriff today binned the trial of nine Celtic fans charged with hanging effigies at a Rangers match.

Sheriff Allan Findlay hit out at prosecutors for not giving defence lawyers “full disclosure” of available evidence.


The Celtic fans were charged following the match in September 2016.

Ross Brady, 29, Kieran Carvill, 19, Andrew McDonald, 24, Kasey McKinnon, 19, Martin Gallagher, 27, Mark Macdonald, 24, Lewis McLachlan, 20, Myles McSwegan, 18 and Michael Bentley, 28, were due to stand trial.

[PatHead]

What a waste of money

[H18 SFR]

I'm delighted at this outcome for a number of reasons, the system is rife with the crown not disclosing evidence. This occasion is a prime example with so many accused it is highly likely some may have faced a miscarriage of justice.

The more the merrier for me with regards Sheriffs taking this stance.

[blackpoolhibs]

Was part of the charges relating to hate crimes?

[Smartie]

I'm fairly ambivalent about this outcome (as I know little about the detail of the case) but I would say that I don't find the hanging of effigies in a Scottish football ground anything like acceptable "banter".

[Jim44]

Should Celtic, as a club, not have been held responsible for allowing or not policing this sort of atrocious behaviour by their bigoted fans?

[CropleyisGod]

I think the point here is that 9 men were connected with a crime ‘by association’ which was of dubious report (for example, “some tw*t above me started waving an effigy”. In all probability some were guilty, some were innocent bystanders. Thankfully, in most cases, the law protects the innocent, even if it means the guilty go free. [replaces tin hat, slides back into trench]

[CropleyWasGod]

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Should Celtic, as a club, not have been held responsible for allowing or not policing this sort of atrocious behaviour by their bigoted fans?

Nope. We don't have strict liability.

[One Day Soon]

They're Celtc fans. What they avoid in prosecution they'll make up for in persecution.

[Jim44]

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Nope. We don't have strict liability.

Does that mean that if a club sees their fans ‘misbehaving’ they can turn a blind eye to it and suffer no consequences? It’s not as if the offences were difficult to detect. I reckon the bigoted Celtic management were enjoying what was unfolding. Two cheeks of one arse, as they say.

[BullsCloseHibs]

Good call. What a waste of money. Again.

[CropleyWasGod]

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Does that mean that if a club sees their fans ‘misbehaving’ they can turn a blind eye to it and suffer no consequences? It’s not as if the offences were difficult to detect. I reckon the bigoted Celtic management were enjoying what was unfolding. Two cheeks of one arse, as they say.

The clubs can take action against their own fans if they wish. But no-one is going to hold the club responsible, whether they take action or not.

[Jim44]

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The clubs can take action against their own fans if they wish. But no-one is going to hold the club responsible, whether they take action or not.

Isn’t that pathetic? Why would a club take action against law-breaking fans if they were actually condoning the criminality?

[CropleyWasGod]

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Isn’t that pathetic? Why would a club take action against law-breaking fans if they were actually condoning the criminality?

It's the situation that the clubs have voted for.

[Chic Murray]

This is good news for everybody burning effiges of Guido Faulkes on November the 5th, whether on a football pitch, or anywhere else.

No sectarian spin intended, but I know how some people think.

[jacomo]

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I'm fairly ambivalent about this outcome (as I know little about the detail of the case) but I would say that I don't find the hanging of effigies in a Scottish football ground anything like acceptable "banter".

Fair enough, it isn’t something I’d want to be part of and it’s definitely in poor taste.

A criminal matter though? Really? When thousands sign songs glorifying sectarian violence and nothing happens?

[dangermouse]

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Fair enough, it isn’t something I’d want to be part of and it’s definitely in poor taste.

A criminal matter though? Really? When thousands sign songs glorifying sectarian violence and nothing happens?

But at least they are sharing their bigotry with the deaf.

[Keith_M]

Not being a blow-up doll myself, I find it difficult to take any offense.


My wife, on the other hand...