Celtic fan jailed for racist tweets to Rangers duo

A CELTIC fan was today jailed for a year for tweeting vile racial comments about two Rangers players.

El-Hadji Diouf, left, and Sone Aluko during their time at Rangers. Pictures: Getty/SNS

Declan McCuish, 23, posted the comment “black monkey b******” about former Ibrox star Sone Aluko.

He also tweeted the phrase “Are you still playing football you vile little f****** monkey” about Senegalese footballer El-Hadji Diouf who also played for the team at the time.

After receiving complaints about his offensive tweets, McCuish’s home near Ibrox was raided and police found cannabis and phenazepam.

McCuish, now from Paisley, pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to posting “abusive and threatening comments” to Aluko and in relation to Diouf on February 2 and 3, 2013.

He also admitted producing cannabis and possession of phenazepam.

Passing a total sentence of 12 months sheriff Andrew Cubie branded the tweets “vile and racist” and noted that his Twitter name, which included a reference to 1888, was linked to Celtic.

He told McCuish that he was part of a “small and dwindling group” that want to “cherish this kind of hatred”.

The sheriff added that these comments had “no place in 21st century Scotland”.

It was heard that McCuish posted the comment: “Your a joke yourself yah black monkey b*****” [sic] about Aluko.

A member of the public responded to this although it is not known what they said, and McCuish continued with his racist slur.

He commented saying: “I’ll take the derry I’m not scared of the jail like yourself so here it is one more time he’s a black monkey b*****”.

The court was told he also posted a message about Diouf which said: “Are you still playing football you vile little f****** monkey, Your better at spitting on people than playing.” [sic]

Two Twitter users, one in Northern Ireland and one in England reported the racist remarks posted on the social networking site.

Police checked McCuish’s social networking site and saw he had posted his home address which led officers to his door.

A search warrant was granted and his home was raided and drugs found.

Defence lawyer Ron McKenna said that his client was suffering from a breakdown at the time of the offences and was using drugs.

He added that McCuish described his actions as “disgusting” and accepts full responsibility for what he has done.