Clubber fined for sectarian abuse towards door steward

A MAN has been fined £500 after aiming sectarian abuse at a door steward on a night out to celebrate his 22nd birthday.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Graham Fletcher was told by Sheriff Gordon Liddle that such conduct would not be tolerated.

Fletcher, a first offender, of Howdenhall Way, Edinburgh, had pleaded guilty to acting in a racially aggravated manner towards Iain Jack at City Nightclub in Market Street on September 26 this year.

Fiscal depute Graham Fraser said Fletcher had had too much to drink and was ejected from the club about 1am.

A door steward became the target for his aggression and he called the man "a Fenian b*****d".

Defence solicitor Ann Marie Partridge said Fletcher had just turned 22 and had been out celebrating with friends. "He is "extremely embarrassed" by his behaviour," she said.

Sheriff Liddle told Fletcher: "There is no place in our society for the sort of sectarian abuse you involved yourself in. We have enough strife without that."