Rangers fan fined but escapes banning order for sectarian singing against Brechin

A Rangers supporter who admitted to singing sectarian songs during his side’s match against Brechin has been fined and has escaped a football banning order.

• David Boyd accused of sectarian chants during Rangers’ match against Brechin

• Rangers fan was among five men arrested under new hate crime legislation

• Boyd given £500 fine after early guilty plea

The 25-yea-old was filmed by police shouting “f*ck the Pope” and “Fenian b*stards” as he watched the newco Rangers side in their first match against Brechin City at Glebe Park last month.

Boyd, of Aberdeen, was one of five men arrested following the July 29 league cup tie on suspicion of using foul and abusive language of religious hatred within a football stadium.

All four others deny the charges against them, while another man also denies throwing a smoke cannister onto the park.

Boyd, who was arrested in Aberdeen the following week, was hit with a £500 fine when he appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court today But Sheriff Peter Anderson told him: “I considered making a Football Banning Order because you did conduct yourself in a disorderly manner, but I am not going to make a Football Banning Order.”

The sheriff also discounted Boyd’s fine from £750 for his early guilty plea.

ASHAMED

Boyd’s solicitor Gregor Sim said his client, a former season ticket holder at Ibrox, was “deeply ashamed” of his behaviour.

He said: “In the run up to this game, there was the possibility that Rangers would not exist as a club and permission was only granted for them to play this game a day or two beforehand.

“It was the first game Rangers had been involved in since their financial difficulties. Unfortunately, Mr Boyd had been drinking.

“This is not behaviour he would normally take paty in but he sang along with songs he accepts were offensive.

“He was not an instigator, he was a follower, one of a large contingent of Rangers fans.

“He does not consider himself in any way to have any kind of religious bigotry - he is not a religious person.

“He bears no ill will to people of Catholic faith but understands this would have been extermely offensive to anybody listening.”

Sentencing Boyd, Sheriff Anderson said: “It has been said on your behalf that you are deeply ashamed and so you should be.

“To come to Brechin and behave as you did was outrageous.

“This season more than previous seasons you are likley to be part of a smaller crowd and you will much be easier to identify.

“This behaviour will not be tolerated any more than it will be in cities.”

SMOKE BOMB

The remaining men are due to appear back at Forfar Sheriff Court on October 25, ahead of their respective trials in November.

Gordon McKillop, 28, of Largs, Ayrshire, Derek McCreadie, 22, of Wigtown, Wigtownshire, Billy Brawley and Andrew Callaghan, both 28, of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, deny using foul and abusive language of religious hatred likely to incite public disorder, contrary to the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communciations Act.

Gordon McLean, 32, of Glasgow, denies culpably and recklessly having a lit smoke cannister in his possession at the match, waving it in the air an throwing it over the heads of people in the crowd onto the park, with disregard for the consequences.

All were bailed but banned from attending Rangers matches in the interim.