Off-duty cop 'sang IRA songs at taxi rank', court hears

[ian1964 10,720]

An OFF-DUTY cop faced up to a colleague who was singing IRA songs on a night out, a court heard yesterday.

 

Ian Cameron said he stepped in when Christopher Halaka sparked an angry reaction by singing sectarian songs as he approached a taxi rank.

 

He said he was trying to calm down Halaka, 31, and his uncle Laurence Winters, 43.

 

Perth Sheriff Court heard that Mr Cameron, who was at a football team reunion in the city, told the men to stop singing.

 

The Paisley CID officer added that a woman in the taxi queue also told them to stop.

 

He added: "Both were shouting at the same time. It was words to the effect of, 'What's it got to do with you?' and, 'We'll sing what we want, mind your own business'."

 

The court was told that Mr Cameron told them he was a police officer and, when he produced his warrant card, one of them tried to grab it.

 

He said he phoned Tayside Police when another group of men came forward to confront the men.

 

Halaka, who is also a cop with Strathclyde, and Winters both deny religiously provoked breach of the peace.

 

The trial will continue next month.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2010/11/09/off-duty-cop-sang-ira-songs-at-taxi-rank-court-hears-86908-22703241/

[Gazza_8 233]

Does this really surprise anyone?