FAC. Danny’s Story June 24, 2013 in Anti discrimination Blogs, Fans Against Criminalisation by JasCam I listened to Danny tell his story at the Fans Against Criminalisation (FAC) press conference last Friday. After a chat Danny kindly agreed to share his story with our readers. Danny’s Story On the 22nd of August 2010, on the day of the first home game of season 2010/2011, the Green Brigade unfurled a banner of Neil Lennon with Ibrox in flames as the teams emerged from the tunnel. Everything went as planned and there appeared to be no sign that over the course of the next 16 months, my life was going to be turned upside down as I was made to attend 11 court dates for a banner that was deemed offensive. In November of 2010 I was at work and got a call from my Grandparents saying that the Police were wanting to speak to me. This caused me both shock and confusion as I had never been in trouble with the Police in my life. After contacting a lawyer, he arranged for me to meet the police at London Road Police station. I went along where I was formally charged with a Sectarian Breach of The Peace (this was prior to the introduction of the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012) before being taken to the cells and kept in for several hours. I was then questioned about the Neil Lennon banner at Celtic Park and admitted holding it on the basis that I felt that I had nothing to hide. I was eventually released and told to appear at court in December, where I plead not guilty to the alleged offence. The Fiscal then dropped the Sectarian part of my charge meaning that it was now simply a BOTP. I then had to attend court a further 10 times, resulting in my case being perhaps the most expensive BOTP to be processed through the Scottish Judicial system. My case was continually adjourned for a number of spurious and occasionally ridiculous reasons. This pantomime continued for months with each passing court date making it increasingly difficult for me to remain in my job, as the days off naturally took their toll on the patience of my employer. As every court case came, the Procurator Fiscal would claim to not have sufficient evidence ready, or an eye witness would have to go in for a knee operation. This charade continued for 16 months before my trial finally went ahead. The trial itself then lasted 3 days, ultimately resulting in a Not Guilty verdict. As one might expect, this was a major relief and a massive weight off my shoulders. The verdict however did not undo the damage that this case caused. The regular days off work as well as the constant looming threat of the repercussions of a ‘guilty’ verdict remained a strain on my whole family. My lawyer was confident that we would win the case but at the same time he had to be realistic and inform us that a custodial sentence was a possibility if convicted. For someone who has never been in trouble with the law before, this seemed both surreal and terrifying. Holding a banner at a football match could theoretically have landed me in prison. Fortunately, this particular nightmare was never realised and the judge came to the correct decision. Unfortunately though, much of the damage was already done. Due to the amount of days off that I had to take, I was subject to disciplinary proceedings at work. The amount of shifts I was offered decreased dramatically and I simply could not afford to live on a 16 hours a week wage when I had myself and my family to support. I eventually lost my job however I was fortunate enough to find another shortly afterwards. To look back on what I was put through, and to consider the affect that it had on my family, it seems incredible that it all stemmed from holding a banner at a football match. A banner that was neither racist nor sectarian. Sadly it now seems that football fans are fair game in the eyes of the government and the police. As if to demonstrate that, and to emphasise the problems inherent within the new Offensive Behaviour Act, I was arrested again under the new law and wrongly accused of an apparent crime once again. Fortunately this time the judge had the good sense to see the case for what it was and he threw out the case on the basis of video evidence which exonerated me of any wrong doing, and thankfully I was spared the nightmare of further court appearances. Now I simply hope that common sense prevails and that the SNP can accept that this new law is simply not working, and that there must be a complete and drastic overhaul regarding the way that football fans are treated in this country. Danny.
Hocus FoCUS Strike Again My name is Chris and I’m a Celtic fan in public service in my mid twenties. I have no criminal record and my only experience of dealing with the Police is at football matches when cameras are routinely put in my face simply because I want to watch and support my team. I was arrested in January as I came through passport control at Glasgow Airport. Cuffed and dragged out by four police officers in front of several hundred travellers and my crying girlfriend. My supposed crime was that I allegedly held up a satirical banner shown at a pre season friendly match between Celtic and English premiership side Norwich. I still to this day don’t know if I did or not as no evidence was ever shown to me. I do however know that the charge was absolutely ludicrous and the Procurator Fiscal obviously agreed as this case was dropped before I was required to appear at court. I am involved in the campaign against criminalisation and a couple of fan groups at Celtic. It seems that I was singled out for this treatment because of that. I asked one of the Police officers why they choose to arrest me so publically in the airport, embarrassing my family. I was told it was because I had recently moved address and they didn’t know where I now lived. The officer didn’t respond when I said they knew where I stood at matches and no doubt where I drank and how I got to the games. I was then taken to Govan Police station where I was eventually un-cuffed. In the three hours I sat in the police cell all I could think about was my arrest at the airport and how it was nothing more than harassment and an attempt to humiliate me. I was charged under the Offensive behaviour at football act and released from custody late at night with a court date set for February. I never had to go to court as my case was dropped within weeks. In that respect I was much more fortunate than many of my fellow fans who have to attend court on multiple occasions and have cases and bans from matches hanging over them for months and beyond. However even in those few weeks it’s difficult not to think of the impact a court case and a possible conviction might have on your life. I work with vulnerable adults and a conviction for football related offenses in the current climate would see me lose my job and I would struggle to find another to provide for my family. With football fans being demonised by the SNP Government particularly when they falsely claim the act is about anti sectarianism and tackling bigotry clearly having a court case hanging over me could seriously harm my career. From the recent statistics which showed only sex crimes have more conviction rates have lower conviction rates it’s clear that a lot of fans will go through the hassle of going to court, only to be found not guilty. It’s also clear that many of the conviction rates are based on guilty pleas as people like me want to avoid their employers finding out or the hassle and expense of defending yourself against charges under the act. Almost all fans like myself would not be near a police station or a court room if FoCUS wasn’t in their faces at football matches and football fans had not been criminalised by the SNP. Chris Chris’s statement was transcribed from an audio recording I made at the FAC press conference. It is a correct representation to the best of my knowledge.
My name is Seamus and I have no criminal record although I did receive a caution once when I met Bib Fortuna in Cowcaddens underpass. I own several satirical banners that I take into Glasgow pubs in order to show solidarity with the NHS nurses in A&E. I have kept wads of them in a job. Alex Salmond has made our game his political football and he should concentrate on his windmills instead. Unless Danny and Chris are freed I am going to boycott all things related to Scotland including Scottish oxygen, my giro, and interviews with former Hearts greats. I have not been lifted yet, but itâs surely inevitable.
Fat Sal, is that you? Joking aside, I think I speak for all of us on the Celtic board when I say that thank **** we don't go to games or this could be us
Dion's story On the 26th of December 2012 I was enjoying watching my team over the festive period. This came to a quick end when I was wrongly arrested under the Offensive behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications act 2012 and for apparently singing a song supporting a terrorist organisation. I was held in custody over night, I was then released on bail after denying the charges at Dundee Sherriff Court. As part of my bail conditions I was informed that I could not attend any Celtic away matches until my trial was over. This was terrible news as my life revolved around watching Celtic. The following day the national newspapers published a story which described the scenes as a ‘disgrace’ and ‘shambolic’ , completely exaggerating what actually happened. My name was printed across several papers with one claiming that I was demonstrating support for terrorist organisations. I then received a letter from Celtic telling me I was banned from all Celtic games until after my trial. This was incredibly hard to take as I was treated as guilty until proven innocent instead of innocent until proven guilty by the club I love and have followed home and away over the years without incident. I then had to attend court in Dundee on three separate occasions. After making three trips from Glasgow to Dundee and the judge examining all the pieces of evidence they had, producing a not guilty verdict. This was a relief as I knew I had not committed any crime so I was determined to clear my name. I then had to contact Celtic FC to have my season ticket reinstated however during this time I had missed many games that were part of my season ticket, multiple away games and the game in the last 16 of the Champions League against Juventus. I sincerely hope that the legislation is scrapped when it is reviewed to save any other families and the stress this put me and my own family through at home and also at work. Dion Mcleish innocent Celtic supporter. Dion’s statement was transcribed from an audio recording I made at the FAC press conference. It is a correct representation to the best of my knowledge.
Why? No sympathy from me I am afraid. My life revolves around my family, friends, masturbation, my career and then general **** after that. The reason these idiots end up arrested is for the sole reason that they have absolutely no life whatsoever and their entire lives revolve around a football team. If I went to every single Celtic game, home and away, and hung around with equally-minded fools who spend Sun to Friday making banners and deciding which scarf to wrap around my face, I am obviously increasing the chance of getting arrested because I, and those around me, are more than likely going to act the **** sooner or later.
According to their statements, if they are to be believed, they have not committed any crimes. It is not a crime to be an arsehole <Phew>
