ian1964 10,720 Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 A Rangers fan has been given two years probation and a football banning order for singing the 'Famine Song'. William Walls, 20, was found guilty of breach of the peace, aggravated by religious and racial prejudice, at Kilmarnock District Court. The offence was committed at Rangers' away match at Kilmarnock on 9 November. Rangers have asked fans to not to sing the song, which refers to events that killed an estimated one million people in Ireland in the 1840s. Speaking after sentence, Kilmarnock District Procurator Fiscal, Les Brown, said: "The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service takes all instances of racism and bigotry very seriously. "We will prosecute in court all offences which are aggravated by racial or religious prejudice. Where any singing, chanting or other behaviour is perceived as being racist or sectarian in nature, we will take positive action Asst Ch Con John Nielson Strathclyde Police "In this case we worked closely with both police officers who were present at Rugby Park and senior officers to ensure that the full extent and impact of the accused's conduct was put before the court. "The key witnesses in this case were stewards employed by Rangers Football Club who brought Mr Walls' conduct to the attention of the police. I would like to thank them for the fair and frank manner in which they gave their evidence." Assistant Chief Constable John Nielson, of Strathclyde Police, said: "We work closely with football clubs to eradicate any racist and/or sectarian behaviour in football - it will not be tolerated. "Where any singing, chanting or other behaviour is perceived as being racist or sectarian in nature, we will take positive action. "Over recent years, Strathclyde Police has made a significant number of arrests for sectarianism and racist behaviour at football matches and will continue to do so." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7786133.stm 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappa 0 Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 Good PR for Rangers except amongst their own support. Shitty luck for young Mr Walls.... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 5,614 Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 A joke of a decision, if you have read the details of the case. He seems to be guilty of singing a song that nobody has accused him of singing. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maineflyer 0 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 An entirely politically motivated and contrived conviction. Dubious in law and pointless in effect. You could see this coming weeks ago but exactly who's interests have been served by this nonsense? Embarrassingly, the Rangers chairman will no doubt feel his very vocal interventions have been adequately acknowledged. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_2010 0 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 And how much has this case cost the country? and all this pointlessness with a recession on the horizon apparently... if only people had some perspective! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 846 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 William Walls - what a name that is! You think he was hand picked? But absolute joke of a charge. And people cant see this big brother prison society coming!!! Look at this part: Rangers have asked fans to not to sing the song We havent been TOLD / ORDERED not to sing it - i.e. it hasnt been pushed through law. And when you look at the words "the famines over, WHY dont you go home" - saying 'why' is merely a suggestion. Yes its not a great song to sing but i cant see where the racism comes into this. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS 0 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 The Irish are not a race. They were british b4 partition so they were the same nationality as you or me when the Famine was on. Are they saying they are now a race [different] and were not then? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 5,614 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 The Irish are not a race.They were british b4 partition so they were the same nationality as you or me when the Famine was on. Are they saying they are now a race [different] and were not then? I believe that the Irish would be classified as a race under current legislation. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMS 0 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I believe that the Irish would be classified as a race under current legislation. Can you point me to that mate as I can't find how they can define a National as a Race, cheers. I refer you to The Human Genome Project mate. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/minorities.shtml 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maineflyer 0 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Talk about a multi-racial society. Clearly people from Dundee or Inverness are of separate races. They have unique cultural heitage, they use different dialects and accents, and have a clear sense of their own collective identity. In fact, every region of the country will have to mind their P's and Q's in this lunatic world. No more references to sheepshaggers or teuchters or weegies. Clearly there are now no more walls, only bricks of a particular collective disposition. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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