Rangers Fan Found Guilty For Singing Famine Song

[ian1964 10,720]

SINGING just two lines of the notorious "Famine Song" amounts to racism, a court has ruled in a landmark case.

 

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Wednesday, a 20-year-old Rangers fan was found guilty of committing a breach of the peace during Rangers 4-0 victory over Killie on November 9.

 

And procurator fiscal Les Brown successfully argued that by singing the lines "The famine�s over, why don�t you go home?" William Walls, of Glasgow, had associated himself with other, more offensive elements of the song.

 

Walls, who had denied the offence, was remanded in custody until December 16 for social enquiry and community service reports.

 

During the trial, Sheriff Iona McDonald heard that Walls was seen singing the chorus of the song and other offensive remarks during the game by stewards employed by Rangers FC.

 

Nicola Tait, 24, said that one of her tasks was to monitor the Rangers support for sectarian behaviour, including the singing of the "Famine Song".

 

"The ââ?¬Ë?Famine Songââ?¬â?¢ is one song that is not tolerated by Rangers," she told the court.

 

Miss Tait ââ?¬â?? a club steward for the last three years ââ?¬â?? said that her instructions were to take the seat numbers of those guilty of sectarian behaviour and report them to Rangers for further action.

 

Walls, she said, was seen on a number of occasions in the first and second halves standing up and singing.

 

He did this particularly when other fans had stopped singing the song, in an effort to get them to continue.

 

"He was up and down out his seat every two minutes," said Miss Tait. "He had been asked to sit down a few times by another steward."

 

She had reported his seat number at half-time and later saw him being escorted up the stairs by another steward and two police officers.

 

Fellow Rangers stead Michael Rennie, 38, also identified Walls as singing the two best-known lines of the "Famine Song".

 

He was also "constantly in the aisle", singing the song.

 

Two friends of Walls, who were at the game denied that their pal had sung the "Famine Song" or made any other sectarian comments.

 

Both claimed that the "Famine Song" had been sung by only a "small minority" of Rangers fans ââ?¬â?? in contrast to the evidence of stewards that as many as 90 per cent of the Rangers support in Rugby Parkââ?¬â?¢s Moffat stand had taken part.

 

Under cross-examination by Mr Brown, one defence witness ââ?¬â?? David Hopkins, 25, of Glasgow ââ?¬â?? admitted that he had previously been banned from Ibrox, Hampden and Celtic Park.

 

Addressing Sheriff McDonald, Mr Brown argued that while it was accepted that, at most, Walls had sung only two lines of the "Famine Song", it would be clear to the majority of those there that it was "telling people from Ireland to go home".

 

"That, in itself, is a racist sentiment," he said.

 

BY contrast, Bob McDowall, defending, argued that that would require a "quantum leap" by the court.

 

"Evidence is led that one or two lines are used and it is implied that the rest of the song is meant," he said. "Says who?"

 

Mr McDowall described the case as "novel" and "a very serious matter".

 

"Ireland and the Irish are not mentioned in that stanza," he pointed out.

 

Earlier Sheriff McDonald rejected a defence submission that there was no case on answer on the ground that the description of Walls�s conduct given in evidence could not amount to a breach of the peace.

 

Finding Walls guilty, Sheriff McDonald told him that "given the whole context" his conduct was "likely to be generally alarming and very disturbing to others".

 

After the verdict, Mr Brown revealed that the accused�s record included previous convictions for a breach of the peace with a football aggravation and for an offence with racial aggravations.

 

http://www.kilmarnockstandard.co.uk/ayrshire-news/news-east-ayrshire/kilmarnock-news/2008/11/26/rangers-fan-fined-over-singing-famine-song-at-rugby-park-81430-22348515/

[jbrfc 0]

The first line in your post is wrong mate . the court have not ruled it racist at all .the PF said it was just like you and me saying it is not .

[calscot 0]

Sounds like the Judge wasn't very impartial and the defence lawyer was crap. The song ONLY has two lines so what are they referring to? The song is aimed at Scots so how can it be anti-Irish?

 

I think it's a terrible decision where a someone's subjective inference can make anything we say or sing illegal, given sympathetic leanings by the judge.

 

Sounds like it needs an appeal right up to the House of Lords or European courts.

[Bluedell 5,614]

SINGING just two lines of the notorious "Famine Song" amounts to racism, a court has ruled in a landmark case.

It only has two lines, if it is the plastic paddy chant he was done for singing.

 

The defence are incompetent for allowing the PP chant and the famine song to be related.

 

It seems that they have been found guilty of singing a song that they weren't singing. Only in today's Scotland.......

[carldvelle 0]

Why dont they say anything about other parts of the Why dont you go home song,such as "turning on the lights"and "fuelling u-boats by night".

 

Make a comment Irish Government,is it true?

[calscot 0]

Does anyone know from memory, more than the two lines? If there are more and they are not well known then how can they be inferred?

 

Perhaps we should press for any English person singing GSTQ to be arrested and prosecuted, for racism due to inferring they want to crush Scots...

 

But that would be ridiculous, right?

 

The Law is indeed, an ass.

[Super_Ally 0]

I can honestly say that I have no idea of a single word from the famine song, other than the 2 line ditty it has evolved from.

[maineflyer 0]

Do I understand it correctly that Rangers paid two stewards to go to Rugby Park to look for opportunities to report Rangers fans for specific behaviour associated with the famine song?

 

Oh dear, oh dear Mr Chairman, what are you doing? You sorry, bitter piece of work.

[Zappa 0]

I can't believe it's come to this, but at the same time I can.....

[carldvelle 0]

This thread could end up in the alternative theory thread.Control Control Control.