Irish cop suffers racial abuse (from man with Irish roots)

Published on Thursday 21 February 2008 15:02

A MAN hurled racist abuse at an Irish policeman – despite the fact that his own family originates in Ireland.

The 48-year old – whose full name is Patrick Carrigan Paul McGonigle – called the officer a "f****** Irish w*****" after he was spoken to police last year.

Unemployed McGonigle – whose parents are from Co Donegal – was then arrested.

Today at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, McGonigle, of Springwell Place, Dalry, pleaded guilty to acting in a racially aggravated manner.

The court heard how McGonigle was found by police lying in a stairwell in September last year and was being taken away when he shouted the offensive names at PC Conor Stapleton.

Despite the abuse, McGonigle's defence Andrew Houston, insisted his client was "very proud" of his ties to Ireland and added that it was curious that he should direct his frustrations in this way.

He said: "Mr McGonigle comes from a line of Irish forebearers; his grandparents were Irish as were his parents.

"He is very proud of his Irish roots and bears no ill feelings towards the Irish."

Sheriff Janys Scott warned McGonigle that he was not entitled to speak to the policeman in the way that he did and fined him 150.