May 12 2009 By Charlie Gall
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk
THE moron who waved an IRA flag in the crowd at Saturday's Old Firm game is dating Celtic manager Gordon Strachan's niece.
Aaron "Anzie" Laing, 21, is the boyfriend of Ellis Paterson, the daughter of Strachan's sister.
Decent Old Firm fans united to slam Laing after he brandished the IRA banner in the away section at Ibrox. And the bigot is now facing a life ban from watching the Hoops.
A Celtic insider told the Record: "The club will not tolerate sectarian behaviour and it's safe to say that he won't be back at Celtic Park."
Laing travelled to the Old Firm clash from Aberdeen on the supporters' bus run by the Grampian Emerald Celtic Supporters' Club.
Ellis's dad David, the husband of Strachan's sister Laura, is president of the club.
And he confirmed last night that Laing will no longer be welcome on the bus.
"He has embarrassed everybody," said David, 46.
"He will not be travelling with us again, that's for sure. Without any doubt, he's finished.
"I have already spoken to the bus convener to make sure he's no longer welcome. He won't be taking any more part in the Grampian Emerald."
Strachan, who is well known for his contempt for sectarianism, is close to David and Laura and speaks to them regularly.
His wife Lesley was a bridesmaid when David, a former footballer who played for Highland League side Huntly, married Laura in 1984.
And the Hoops boss was among the guests when David and Laura's eldest daughter, Kayleigh, got married in Aberdeen two years ago.
David, who didn't travel to Saturday's match, stressed that Laing is not a member of the Grampian Emerald.
He added: "I don't know where he got his ticket for the game. Ibrox is one of the easier places to get a ticket because 8000 are made available to Celtic fans.
"I knew him better when he was a lot younger. He used to come on the bus and, yeah, he was a bit of a ned then."
Asked about Laing's relationship with Ellis, David said: "Once upon a time they were close. I don't envisage seeing him again.
"My daughter was down at the game on Saturday."
Ellis has described Laing as "The best" and says she is happiest when "watching Celtic with Aaron".
She and Laing sat next to each other on the Emerald supporters' bus on Saturday but it's not clear whether they were sitting together at the game.
One Celtic fan who was on the bus said: "They were holding hands on the way to the ground.
"I'm sure Ellis's dad would prefer it if she dumped him but you can't pick your daughters' boyfriends for them.
"Laing's a bit of a headcase, a clown, and he gets worse the more he drinks.
"A lot of the boys don't like him because he can be a bit wild with a drink in him."
Another fan added: "Laing appeared on the scene a couple of years back, then I noticed he was going out with Ellis.
"I don't know what her dad will have to say about this. Ellis will be devastated if Davie tells her to drop him. She's only 17 and Aaron is her first love."
The fan added: "I'm told Anzie has become a regular on the bus but most folk reckon he's a bit of a p***k.
"He's a loudmouth and wears pro- IRA T-shirts. I saw him at the last game at Pittodrie and he was wearing an IRA T-shirt that said, 'Undefeated Army'.
"He annoys a lot of people on the bus with his drunken behaviour but people don't say anything because he's going out with Davie Paterson's lassie."
Another Grampian Emerald regular said: "He's bound to be banned from the supporters' club after this. It's a bit embarrassing for Davie, who everyone knows is Strachan's brother-in-law.
"I don't think anyone on the Emerald bus will be crying over Laing if he gets the heave-ho."