SHERIFF Clears Celtic Fan Of Singing Pro-IRA Song at a football match in Inverness

[ian1964 10,761]

A SHERIFF has cleared a Celtic fan of behaving in a manner likely to incite public disorder at a football match in Inverness by singing a pro-IRA song.

 

Calum Graham (21) of Riccarton Street, Glasgow, was identified by two police officers from video footage screened in court at Inverness singing "The Roll of Honour" a pro-IRA song commemorating hunger strikers in Northern Irelandâ??s prisons in 1981.

 

The fan, who was attending a Caley-Thistle v Celtic match in Inverness on August 25 last year admitted in his evidence that he was one of a group of fans singing the song.

 

But he denied the charge that he behaved in an offensive manner likely to incite public disorder by singing songs in support of a terrorist organisation.

 

Inverness Sheriff Court heard during his trial from from two police officers who said Graham was one of two fans who were arrested at the game for singing the song. They were among dozens of fans caught chanting the song on camera by officers drafted in from Glasgow.

 

Sheriff Margaret Neilson said she was satisfied the song could be considered offensive and that it was a song which supported a terrorist organisation.

 

But she said she found no evidence that the singing of the song by Graham was "likely to incite public disorder".

 

"Parliament clearly has it in mind that you must pass this hurdle for it to be an offence," she said. "I have a certain sympathy with the police officers trying to deal with this legislation."

 

She said she was not satisfied the Crown has proved its case to the standard necessary to convict

 

Graham told the court in evidence he had no convictions and never been in trouble with police before.

 

He told his solicitor Duncan Henderson he had attended over 300 Celtic matches and regularly sang the song.

 

Asked if he had been aware of any difficulties before singing the song.

 

"No not at all," he replied,

 

He said after the case: "Iâ??m relieved. The last 10 months have been terrible and Iâ??m glad itâ??s all over. I will never sing the song again."

 

http://www.highland-news.co.uk/News/...-27052013.htm?

[Super Cooper 0]

Suprise surprise. One rule for one and another rule for someone else.

[54andcounting 0]

 

He said after the case: "Iâ??m relieved. The last 10 months have been terrible and Iâ??m glad itâ??s all over. I will never sing the song again."

 

Lesson learned imo

[Bluedell 5,679]

Sheriff Margaret Neilson said she was satisfied the song could be considered offensive and that it was a song which supported a terrorist organisation.

 

But she said she found no evidence that the singing of the song by Graham was "likely to incite public disorder".

 

"Parliament clearly has it in mind that you must pass this hurdle for it to be an offence," she said. "I have a certain sympathy with the police officers trying to deal with this legislation."

 

She said she was not satisfied the Crown has proved its case to the standard necessary to convict

 

Hmm. That interpretation of the law could potentially give the fans of both teams free reign as surely singing in a stadium full of your own support is unlikely to incite public disorder.

[Darthter 542]

I will never sing the song again."

 

....until the next match.

 

He told his solicitor Duncan Henderson he had attended over 300 Celtic matches and regularly sang the song.

 

This bit interested me....admitting in court to regularly singing Pro-IRA songs. Is this not a task that Mr Lunny could look at???? The guy was shown to be singing pro-terrorist songs yet gets off scott-free due to a technicallity...

[Darthter 542]

Hmm. That interpretation of the law could potentially give the fans of both teams free reign as surely singing in a stadium full of your own support is unlikely to incite public disorder.

 

It's different for Rangers fans.....everyone knows that all Gers fans are riotous, sectarian thugs who could cause public disorder in an empty room. Ceptic fans on the other hand are all little angels (at worst little scamps), who are just along for the craic....

[Bluedell 5,679]

It's different for Rangers fans.....everyone knows that all Gers fans are riotous, sectarian thugs who could cause public disorder in an empty room. Ceptic fans on the other hand are all little angels (at worst little scamps), who are just along for the craic....

 

It may not be now. I believe that in the last case involving Rangers fans they pled guilty. There is now a strong argument that they should not have done, particularly with this ruling.

 

A different conclusion may have been reached by the judge if Celtic were playing Hearts or Rangers so I doubt it's giving carte blanche but it appears to give fans a bit more freedom than they had previously and it will be interesting to get the reaction of FoCUS.