Phil D. Rolls
20-06-2013, 10:58 AM
I said when it came out, it was an ill thought out piece of legislation.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/crime/fan-who-called-footballer-willo-1967557r
By Jamie Beatson
Fan who called footballer Willo Flood a 'Fenian b******' is cleared of breaking anti-bigotry laws
20 Jun 2013 07:33
RANGERS fan Richard Scroggie was cleared of breaching the Offensive Behaviour at Football laws and instead found guilty of breach of the peace after shouting obscenities at the player.
Willo Flood
Ross Johnston / Newsline Scotland
A FAN who called SPL star Willo Flood a “Fenian b*****d” has been cleared of breaching Offensive Behaviour at Football laws.
Sheriff Kenneth Hogg’s ruling yesterday dealt a fresh blow to the Scottish Government’s anti-bigotry legislation. He branded the Act “confusing” and “very difficult to wade through”.
Richard Scroggie, 48, admitted shouting “f*** off back to Celtic ya Fenian b*****d” at Flood during Dundee United’s 3-0 win over Rangers in a Scottish Cup tie at Tannadice on February 2.
The Tangerines midfielder, who used to play for the Hoops, has since signed for Aberdeen.
But Black Watch veteran and Gers fan Scroggie, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, pled not guilty to a charge of engaging in behaviour likely to incite public disorder by shouting, singing and chanting foul and abusive language of religious hatred.
Richard Scroggle at court
At Dundee Sheriff Court, he was cleared of that charge – but found guilty instead of breach of the peace.
Sheriff Hogg said: “The section of the legislation you were charged under is very confusing.
“I can’t convict you under the Offensive Behaviour at Football legislation because I’m not convinced that that one remark would be likely to cause public disorder.”
He also threw out an allegation by two police officers that Scroggie sang “f*** the Pope”.
Scroggie, who served in the Army for 22 years, was fined £150. But Sheriff Hogg refused a Crown motion to impose a football banning order.
Scottish Labour’s justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: “This case shows there’s confusion on how to interpret the law, as we said when the SNP pushed it through.
“There needs to be an urgent review on whether this legislation is working as the most effective way to reduce tensions around football.”
In April, the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act, which came into effect in March last year, was branded “mince” by Dundee sheriff Richard Davidson after he cleared a Celtic fan of singing sectarian songs.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/crime/fan-who-called-footballer-willo-1967557r
By Jamie Beatson
Fan who called footballer Willo Flood a 'Fenian b******' is cleared of breaking anti-bigotry laws
20 Jun 2013 07:33
RANGERS fan Richard Scroggie was cleared of breaching the Offensive Behaviour at Football laws and instead found guilty of breach of the peace after shouting obscenities at the player.
Willo Flood
Ross Johnston / Newsline Scotland
A FAN who called SPL star Willo Flood a “Fenian b*****d” has been cleared of breaching Offensive Behaviour at Football laws.
Sheriff Kenneth Hogg’s ruling yesterday dealt a fresh blow to the Scottish Government’s anti-bigotry legislation. He branded the Act “confusing” and “very difficult to wade through”.
Richard Scroggie, 48, admitted shouting “f*** off back to Celtic ya Fenian b*****d” at Flood during Dundee United’s 3-0 win over Rangers in a Scottish Cup tie at Tannadice on February 2.
The Tangerines midfielder, who used to play for the Hoops, has since signed for Aberdeen.
But Black Watch veteran and Gers fan Scroggie, of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, pled not guilty to a charge of engaging in behaviour likely to incite public disorder by shouting, singing and chanting foul and abusive language of religious hatred.
Richard Scroggle at court
At Dundee Sheriff Court, he was cleared of that charge – but found guilty instead of breach of the peace.
Sheriff Hogg said: “The section of the legislation you were charged under is very confusing.
“I can’t convict you under the Offensive Behaviour at Football legislation because I’m not convinced that that one remark would be likely to cause public disorder.”
He also threw out an allegation by two police officers that Scroggie sang “f*** the Pope”.
Scroggie, who served in the Army for 22 years, was fined £150. But Sheriff Hogg refused a Crown motion to impose a football banning order.
Scottish Labour’s justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: “This case shows there’s confusion on how to interpret the law, as we said when the SNP pushed it through.
“There needs to be an urgent review on whether this legislation is working as the most effective way to reduce tensions around football.”
In April, the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act, which came into effect in March last year, was branded “mince” by Dundee sheriff Richard Davidson after he cleared a Celtic fan of singing sectarian songs.