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Journalist suffers sexist and racist abuse after BBC interview about Rangers

 

Imagine this scenario. A young female reporter appears on a BBC TV news and current affairs programme to take part in a discussion about a story she has covered.

 

She is factually accurate in what she says. She does not raise her voice. The interviewer treats her with respect.

 

Within minutes of her appearance, however, she is subjected to a stream of foul online abuse that is both sexist and racist. She is described as a "ginger hag", "one ugly mother", "a pape bigot", an "ugly ****** bastard", "a ****** cow" and even worse misogynistic expletive-laden bile, which I refrain from publishing.

 

But this is not an imaginary incident. It happened at the end of last week to Angela Haggerty, who writes for The Drum magazine.

 

Her "crime" was to have spoken about the latest stage in a long-running legal tussle between HMRC and Rangers football club in Glasgow (known as oldco).

 

One part of the case concerns the use of employee benefits trusts. On 9 July, an upper tier tax tribunal dismissed an appeal by HRMC against a first tier tax tribunal decision in oldco's favour.

 

But the upper tier judge, Lord Doherty, also referred back several other payment issues to the original panel.

 

Haggerty, having edited a book about Rangers' financial collapse,* was invited to discuss the appeal's dismissal on BBC2 Scotland. She spoke from Westminster because she now lives in London. In the Glasgow studio was Craig Houston, a member of a group of Rangers' fans called Sons of Struth.

 

The interview, conducted by Sarah Smith, can be seen above in a YouTube clip. To the uninitiated - people who live outside Scotland - it appears unremarkable. Two people with opposing views are shown talking calmly and coherently about the case.

 

But the post-interview response from a variety of Rangers' fan groups was anything but calm and coherent. Just one example, a Rangers' forum called FollowFollow.com, was replete with the kind of remarks published above.

 

One fan, Enigma, set the tone by employing heavy-handed sarcasm: "My two kids started screaming when she [Haggerty] appeared on the TV. Thankfully they have settled down now and have a Rangers comfort blanket."

 

Most of the abuse referred to Haggerty's looks, her Catholic background and also her Irish background.

 

In January this year, a man who abused Haggerty in an online broadcast was sentenced to six months in jail at Ayr sheriff court for issuing "a threatening communication aggravated by racial and religious prejudice."

 

David Limond encouraged listeners to "hit her with everything you've got".

 

This time, one of the FollowFollow site's commenters asked fellow fans: "Haggerty Facts - anybody got the dirt?"

 

The forum is moderated by Mark Dingwall, a spokesman for the Rangers Supporters Trust, which has made a formal complaint to the BBC about Haggerty being selected to appear on the programme.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/jul/15/journalist-safety-rangers?CMP=twt_gu

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"Within minutes of her appearance, however, she is subjected to a stream of foul online abuse that is both sexist and racist. She is described as a "ginger hag", "one ugly mother", "a pape bigot", an "ugly ****** bastard", "a ****** cow" and even worse misogynistic expletive-laden bile, which I refrain from publishing."

 

Not very persuasive, though, is it?

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The forum is moderated by Mark Dingwall, a spokesman for the Rangers Supporters Trust, which has made a formal complaint to the BBC about Haggerty being selected to appear on the programme.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/jul/15/journalist-safety-rangers?CMP=twt_gu

 

I thought Mark Dingwall was a former spokesman of the RST?

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Ronnie MacKay @RonnieMacKay · 5h

 

As much as I detest abuse to fellow journalists, has to be said Roy, Phil and Angela are clearly in cahoots. Propaganda/agendas at its best.

 

Ronnie MacKay @RonnieMacKay · 5h

 

It is all orchestrated between the three - deliberately antagonise for their own agenda - primarily to sell a book. Not professional at all.

 

Ronnie MacKay @RonnieMacKay · 5h

 

You can criticise SMSM all you like but at least the majority don't deliberately antagonise to get a reaction with unprofessional behaviour.

 

Ronnie MacKay @RonnieMacKay · 5h

 

And the fact one holds a high position in the NUJ....he should be struck off for his antagonism and behaviour.

 

Ronnie MacKay @RonnieMacKay · 5h

 

I don't have a problem with others uncovering stories....it's the behaviour, the orchestrated propaganda, the antagonism to generate a story

 

For the guys that don't have twitter, the guy writes for the Sun.

Edited by sairdyy
im an arse
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