Judge in Rangers case targeted by internet bloggers

A High Court judge overseeing a case involving Rangers has raised an offside flag after telling how he had been targeted by internet bloggers.

The judge is overseeing a legal battle between the club and Sports Direct. Picture: John Devlin

Mr Justice Peter Smith told lawyers that he had wrongly been accused of being a Freemason - and his wife had wrongly been accused of supporting Rangers.

The judge said he was not a Freemason - and he said his wife was from Edinburgh.

He has been asked to make decisions about a business dispute involving a sportswear firm run by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and Rangers.

And said he wanted lawyers to know what bloggers were saying after a preliminary High Court hearing in London.

Mr Justice Smith said his clerk had received emails responding to “various blogs”.

“One of the blogs insists that I am a Freemason, which is wrong,” said the judge.

“Also, my wife is a ‘life-long Rangers supporter’.”

He added: “She is from Edinburgh. The idea that she would support any Glasgow team is laughable.”

Sportswear firm Sports Direct is claiming that Rangers breached a confidential agreement.

Mr Justice Smith is due to analyse evidence at a High Court trial in London in February.

• Three years ago Mr Justice Smith had overseen a case involving Portsmouth. He had told Portsmouth fans gathered at a hearing in London that he was a Hull City fan.

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