Prosecutors are set to appeal the not guilty verdict in the trial of a Celtic fan caught on camera singing a pro-terrorist song at Dundee's Dens Park. Dion McLeish was cleared at Dundee Sheriff Court of inciting public disorder during Dundee's Boxing Day match against Celtic. Sheriff Richard Davidson said the legislation under which he was being tried was "horribly drafted". The Crown Office has confirmed it will appeal the sheriff's decision. Mr McLeish, 20, from Clydebank, was filmed by police officers at Dundee's Dens Park ground on Boxing Day singing the song "Roll of Honour", which celebrates IRA and INLA hunger strikers during the Troubles. But Sheriff Richard Davidson ruled during the trial that police officers could not give "opinion" evidence that the song was linked to proscribed terrorist organisations, and then described the new anti-sectarianism legislation McLeish was tried under as "horribly drafted". The Crown Office and Scottish government have insisted the laws were "working well" and "taking a hard line on sectarianism". Prosecutors have asked for reports to be prepared as they consider an appeal against the ruling in Mr McLeish's case, in which the sheriff stated sectarianism should be tackled by abolishing denominational schools. A Crown Office spokesman said: "The Crown notes the sheriff's decision in this case. Crown counsel has asked the procurator fiscal for a report in order to consider an appeal in light of the sheriff's comments." Sheriff Davidson, speaking during a legal debate at Mr McLeish's trial, criticised the laws. He said: "In this context I think that potentially those who attend Murrayfield and sing Flower of Scotland - there might be a problem." Not concerned Referring to the legislation, Sheriff Davidson said: "Somehow the word mince comes to mind." Mr McLeish was one of four fans who had been arrested at the match, with a further supporter reported to the procurator fiscal. Finding the 20-year-old not guilty, Sheriff Davidson added: "I've been attending football matches since 1957 and there is nothing I've seen in this particular case that would cause me the slightest concern. "Sectarianism is a blight on Scottish society, but this isn't the way to tackle it. The way to tackle it is to do away with denominational schools. "If they can prescribe a list of songs which people are banned from singing, they will find the courts are full and the football grounds are empty."
In my opinion, there's no place for religion in schools in a modern society ... unless your educating pupils on all religions equally.
That's the new unified Scottish Police force. "Police Scotland" bet it took them an age to come up with that.
Agree with the first part. NO religion in schools. If people want to learn about God, Allah or whatever fairytale they believe in there are plenty of churches, mosques etc. for them to do so. However, I think it would be naive to suggest that scrapping faith-based schools will rid Scotland of sectarianism. The sectarianism that exists in Scotland, especially in the west, is a particularly strange form of bigotry that's as complicated to understand as it is obstinate in its way.
I'm not saying that would rid Scotland of sectarianism, just get practising religion out of the classroom ... Though, it would help.
I never knew that. So they'll have to change every single police car, uniform, stationery, signs, ****ing everything with a police logo on it in the whole of Scotland???
