Dear All
The Scottish Parliament should be about
passing law, however, another function of the parliament should be about making
the law fit for purpose and where needed removing laws that don’t work.
One law that is in desperate need of being
removed from the Statute Books is the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.
It was a mistake in its concept, it was a
mistake during the write up and it is a mistake in its application.
It is sheer crap!
The Scottish National Party pressed ahead
with this affront to justice and tried to offer sweeteners to other parties in
Holyrood to get them onboard, they refused to be part of the debacle.
A Celtic fan, Joseph Cairns was previously
cleared having been charged under the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act. The
Crown not likening the verdict went for a retrial.
And, Joseph Cairns has been cleared again;
this deals a serious blow to the anti-bigotry law.
Yesterday, at Dingwall Sheriff Court,
Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist ruled the case against Mr Cairns was not proven.
Third time lucky, who knows in this case!
Mr. Cairn’s father who is also called
Joseph said:
"It's taken its toll on the whole
family, particularly on Joseph's mother. We've been up and back to Dingwall
five times. If Joseph had been done for assault I'd hold my hands up. They'd be
entitled to drag him through the courts. But we've been through the mill and
back over allegations he sang two songs. Alex Salmond has a lot to answer to on
these laws. He should go to some football games in Europe and witness some real
offensive behaviour."
Alex Salmond because of an incident at a
Rangers & Celtic game between Ally McCoist and Neil Lennon acted in his
usual knee jerk fashion. A law was then drafted to meet a football season timetable;
hence we have a load of crap which the SNP MSP like the unthinking drones that
they are just rubber stamped.
Labour's justice spokesman, Graeme Pearson,
said:
"Our police officers are being put in
an unenviable position of making a judgment about what falls within the
freedoms of expression which individuals enjoy and behaviour which falls foul
of the law. This case is evidence that the position our police officers are
being put in is simply unacceptable. The legislation needs review."
If ever there was a need for a Bill to be
removed from the Statute Books then the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act
fits that bill to a T, should football games be banned, because such large
numbers historically act as a catalyst for public disorder?
What then about other large gatherings, pop
concerts, anti war demos, trade unions meetings and fair grounds?
We need law to be clear, to be understandable
to the ordinary person and this Bill fails that test spectacularly.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow
University
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