Thursday, September 17, 2009

Celtic fan banned after waving IRA flag

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8261054.stm


A Celtic fan who waived an Irish flag with IRA written on it at an Old Firm match has been fined £500 and banned from attending games for three years.

Aaron Laing was captured on CCTV with the tricolour during the match at Ibrox in May.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, the 21-year-old, from Peterhead, admitted breaching the peace.

The court also heard that since the offence, Celtic had imposed a lifetime ban on the former season ticket holder.

The court heard that Laing had been dating the niece of then Celtic manager Gordon Strachan when he committed the offence.

Prosecutor Anthony Quigley told the court that officers became aware of the flag half way through the game.

The procurator fiscal depute said police acted quickly after "the Rangers fans were becoming very angry".

He said: "When they got to the area where Mr Laing was sitting, most supporters became co-operative, apart from one or two, and they managed to retrieve the flag.

"Other than that, the match passed without incident."

When officers received phone calls identifying Laing, they were able to track him down as a Celtic season ticket holder and find his home address.

Defence lawyer Neil McCulloch told the court that his client had been drinking heavily that day and maintains that he found the flag in the ground.
'Significant embarrassment'

"He's extremely ashamed of his behaviour and has also embarrassed his family and the club and supporters," he said.

"His girlfriend at the time has a relative who at that time had a significant connection to the club and his actions also caused significant embarrassment to her and her family.

"He has been branded a thug, a yob and a bigot but he could far more accurately be described as drunken and foolish."

Sheriff Alexander Johnston issued Laing with a football banning order stopping him from attending registered matches in the UK for three years.

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A list of the major atrocities by the IRA can be viewed at
http://victims.org.uk/s08zhk/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=183
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