Hanging of Rangers effigies - case collapses

[der Berliner 3,744]

Quote

 

Celtic fans charged over hanging Rangers effigies off the hook as case collapses

The nine fans were charged with hanging the effigies which were thought to be threatening and offensive.

 

ByAshlie McAnally 17:09, 18 SEP 2018

 

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The effigies were seen during the Celtic v Rangers game in September 2016

A sheriff today binned the trial of nine Celtic fans charged with hanging effigies at a Rangers match.

Sheriff Allan Findlay hit out at prosecutors for not giving defence lawyers “full disclosure” of available evidence.

The Celtic fans were charged following the match in September 2016.

Ross Brady, 29, Kieran Carvill, 19, Andrew McDonald, 24, Kasey McKinnon, 19, Martin Gallagher, 27, Mark Macdonald, 24, Lewis McLachlan, 20, Myles McSwegan, 18 and Michael Bentley, 28, were due to stand trial.

 

The accusations centred on effigies and a banner hung at the game which Celtic won 5-1 and were said to be “threatening and offensive”.

Seven hearings had taken place before the nine were finally due to stand trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court earlier today.

But, it emerged - after a two year wait - the Crown gave defence lawyers a version edited by police of what was deemed to be relevant to the case.

Lawyers successfully argued that they didn’t have all of the material that was available and made a motion for the case to be deserted.

There was edited material from a number of computer disks and USB sticks.

Sheriff Findlay said: “The Crown have taken the view that they are going to rely on police evidence.

“I don’t know what’s on the disks. For the life of me I cannot understand why the Crown simply didn’t disclose this stuff to the defence.

“It may be exculpatory. It seems to me the Crown failed in that disclosure.

“The Crown cant take the view it may be exculpatory because they haven’t seen it.”

He said the case was raised as an Offensive Behaviour at Football Act and has been converted to another charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

 

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The sheriff added: “In my view the appropriate remedy here is to desert the case and desert it pro loco et tempore.

“If the Crown wish to consider re-raising it with the criticism I have made of disclosure, it is a mater for them.”

 

 

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/celtic-fans-charged-over-hanging-13267766

 

So just to put this strait ... the case collapses without being heard because "The Crown" did not hand over un-editted material which may well have shown that the culprits named were indeed responsible ... and the defence simply argued because of them not having seen an unedited version the case needs to be "deserted"?

[Gonzo79 15,294]

Aye.  Welcome to modern Scotland.  

 

Banners about 'huns' and hanging effigies of Rangers fans is just a bit of 'craic' but don't you dare sing Hello Hello.  

 

For the record, neither bother me in the slightest but I'd like to see some consistency.

[der Berliner 3,744]

Said it back then and can't understand it now. Had any club official or player spotted it, they should have withdrawn from play and and thus drawn world-wide audience to that sectarian matter on the spot. They've got the freedom of Scotland now and it requires someone from the outside to get them down to earth ...

[rbr 1,256]

Not 1 single high profile case has been won , just about everyone of them have fallen apart , hmmmmmmmmmm

[Scott7 6,009]

The PF can have another go on this one but I expect he won’t bother.

[compo 7,044]

What a waste of court time .

[StuGers 477]

The whole thing is a sham. I’m sure plenty of strings were being pulled to orchestrate this tidy outcome in which no one can really get the blame.

 

This country acts in a sinister manner at times.

[StuGers 477]

Also worth noting that the fact they were effigies of Protestant Orangemen has now been completely wiped from

history. No surprise there.

[der Berliner 3,744]

Thing is ... the defence lawyers should have demanded a handing over of the full files ... and the sheriff should have ordered it. Why is it brought before him for a "decision" if the demand was not made by either the lawyers or himself? Did the Crown willfully retain any unedited files?

 

2016 ... dear oh dear. Wonder if anything came of the cup final chaos.

[der Berliner 3,744]

2 minutes ago, StuGers said:

Also worth noting that the fact they were effigies of Protestant Orangemen has now been completely wiped from

history. No surprise there.

I would have assumed that the Orange Order had some sort of side-case in here ... someone who pushes this through. Maybe I am wrong, but they have been ominously quiet about quite a few things these last few years.