I said when it came out, it was an ill thought out piece of legislation.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/cr...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.
Results 1 to 14 of 14
Thread: Blow To Anti Bigotry Law
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20-06-2013 10:58 AM #1
Blow To Anti Bigotry Law
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20-06-2013 11:11 AM #2
Does anyone really know the laws on sectarian behavious in Scottish football?
Why should it only be punishable if it is seen to incite public disorder? Surely a blanket ban on anything sectarian, regardless of what happens next, is what should happen? It should have a minimum of a £200 fine too.
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20-06-2013 11:15 AM #3This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
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20-06-2013 11:26 AM #4
It's not really an anti-bigotry law though, is it?
We already had anti-bigotry laws. The problem with them was they only caught Rangers fans (funny that). The new laws are a direct response to Huns moaning that they were forced to give up their tradishuns while the Celtic fans were allowed to continue with the rebel stuff.
The way the law is framed is ridiculous, particularly the bit about likely to incite public disorder. We've all been listening to the same old tired pish from the OF forever. It's never incited public disorder before. How can they realistically bring prosecutions saying it's going to now?
If we want to remove this from football we should be doing it with football laws that punish clubs for the behaviour of their fans (just like the ones our clubs have just thrown out in fact ). It was UEFA threats that stopped the Huns singing the Billy Boys, nothing else.
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20-06-2013 03:24 PM #5
so shouting Fenian ******* isnt seen as bigoted behaviour just a breach of the peace order
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21-06-2013 11:29 AM #6This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
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21-06-2013 11:35 AM #7
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If you called somebody a Muslim B you'd be done for racial abuse, never mind plain bigotry or breach of the peace which is a £50 letter fine that doesn't even go on your record. Charter for huns.
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21-06-2013 11:41 AM #8
If the Sheriff finds the law confusing and difficult to interpret he should maybe find another line of work.
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21-06-2013 12:38 PM #9This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
Muslim's not a race.
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21-06-2013 01:01 PM #10This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
You don't have to resort to sectarianism for your feelings to be heard.
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21-06-2013 01:24 PM #11This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show QuoteThis quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
Correct. The huns can hardly be accused of constructive criticism. If they came to ER and wanted a half time debate on transubstantiaton or the RC church view on contraception, homosexuality etc id happily join in and probably agree with them. To bracket fenian b in with legitimate religious criticism is nonsense.
To the hardcore hun bigot by virtue of our teams name and colours we are all fenian bs ... including the Protestant/ agnostic/ atheist / Jedi HibbiesLast edited by Brizo; 21-06-2013 at 01:26 PM.
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21-06-2013 02:56 PM #12
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Different judges, different outcomes .....nothing new.
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21-06-2013 02:58 PM #13
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This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
Try burning a Koran on youtube etc.. and see what happens. Burn as many bibles as you like, no police charge.
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22-06-2013 09:33 AM #14This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
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