Court hears Celtic fan wrote racist and sectarian rants on Facebook

Published on Wednesday 20 July 2011 17:25

A CELTIC fan has admitted posting sectarian and racist comments on the internet after being trapped by a police crackdown on online abuse and hatred.

Michael Bailey, 20, left messages on the website Facebook, in a group called "Neil Lennon should be banned", where he defended the Celtic manager, and on his own page.

Sectarian postings about Glasgow Rangers and a racist comment about Senegalese player El Hadji Diouf were spotted as part of the investigation.

After finding the messages on 15 March, police traced the defendent through his Facebook account.

Bailey, of Bridgeton, Glasgow, yesterday pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to posting racist and sectarian comments on the internet between 7 and 8 March this year.

Procurator-fiscal depute Mark Allan told the court that police officers linked comments to Bailey in which he wrote: "Glasgow rangers yous are s*** you bunch of orange b******* you will never win f*** all cos lennons on the treble." (sic)

Mr Allan told the court another comment was made which did not include any sectarian or racial comments. He said: "This posting led the enquiry team to the now accused's profile page, which had a post from the accused dated 7 March."

That posting included a comment calling then-Rangers manager Walter Smith a "dirty pie eating Orange b******".

Mr Allan said other people then commented on this, and Bailey then replied on 8 March with a message that included "send diouf back to the jungle".

Mr Allan added: "It was identified that the site was freely open to view for anyone with a Facebook account."

Bailey was detained by police on 30 April and interviewed.

The court was told he accepted "full responsibility" for posting the comments on the social networking site.

The 20-year-old was released on bail with the conditions that he must not enter any SPL ground or Hampden Stadium and will sign on at his local police station during the first half of every Celtic match.

Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC deferred sentencing until next month for reports.

The conviction comes as police and ministers look to crack down on online abuse as a way of tackling sectarianism.

The Scottish Government plans to introduce maximum sentences of up to five years for people who make such threats online. However, that legislation has been delayed after fears it was being rushed through parliament too quickly.