Banning order over 'Famine song'

[Polo 1,435]

A Rangers fan has been given two years probation and a football banning order for singing the 'Famine Song'.

William Walls, 20, was found guilty of breach of the peace, aggravated by religious and racial prejudice, at Kilmarnock District Court.

The offence was committed at Rangers' away match at Kilmarnock on 9 November.

Rangers have asked fans to not to sing the song, which refers to events that killed an estimated one million people in Ireland in the 1840s.

Speaking after sentence, Kilmarnock District Procurator Fiscal, Les Brown, said: "The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service takes all instances of racism and bigotry very seriously.

"We will prosecute in court all offences which are aggravated by racial or religious prejudice.

Where any singing, chanting or other behaviour is perceived as being racist or sectarian in nature, we will take positive action

Asst Ch Con John Nielson

Strathclyde Police

"In this case we worked closely with both police officers who were present at Rugby Park and senior officers to ensure that the full extent and impact of the accused's conduct was put before the court.

"The key witnesses in this case were stewards employed by Rangers Football Club who brought Mr Walls' conduct to the attention of the police. I would like to thank them for the fair and frank manner in which they gave their evidence."

Assistant Chief Constable John Nielson, of Strathclyde Police, said: "We work closely with football clubs to eradicate any racist and/or sectarian behaviour in football - it will not be tolerated.

"Where any singing, chanting or other behaviour is perceived as being racist or sectarian in nature, we will take positive action.

"Over recent years, Strathclyde Police has made a significant number of arrests for sectarianism and racist behaviour at football matches and will continue to do so."

[Scott-RFC 308]

Fuckin hell

[Polo 1,435]

Rangers stewards at an away game? Is that normal?

[ManchestGer 347]

quite extreme to say the least

[NRyanRFC 7]

WHY DON'T YOU GO HOME!!!!

[The Hammer 11 2,585]

hope he appeals and fights it to the death

[NOLUWDC 1]

[*Manticore* 1,893]

Where any singing, chanting or other behaviour is perceived as being racist or sectarian in nature, we will take positive action.

Really Assistant Chief Constable Nielson?

What about what I percieve as racist or sectarian in nature, you do fuck all about that.

[Mark. 69]

A Rangers fan has been given two years probation and a football banning order for singing the 'Famine Song'.

William Walls, 20, was found guilty of breach of the peace, aggravated by religious and racial prejudice, at Kilmarnock District Court.

The offence was committed at Rangers' away match at Kilmarnock on 9 November.

Rangers have asked fans to not to sing the song, which refers to events that killed an estimated one million people in Ireland in the 1840s.

Speaking after sentence, Kilmarnock District Procurator Fiscal, Les Brown, said: "The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service takes all instances of racism and bigotry very seriously.

"We will prosecute in court all offences which are aggravated by racial or religious prejudice.

Where any singing, chanting or other behaviour is perceived as being racist or sectarian in nature, we will take positive action

Asst Ch Con John Nielson

Strathclyde Police

"In this case we worked closely with both police officers who were present at Rugby Park and senior officers to ensure that the full extent and impact of the accused's conduct was put before the court.

"The key witnesses in this case were stewards employed by Rangers Football Club who brought Mr Walls' conduct to the attention of the police. I would like to thank them for the fair and frank manner in which they gave their evidence."

Assistant Chief Constable John Nielson, of Strathclyde Police, said: "We work closely with football clubs to eradicate any racist and/or sectarian behaviour in football - it will not be tolerated.

"Where any singing, chanting or other behaviour is perceived as being racist or sectarian in nature, we will take positive action.

"Over recent years, Strathclyde Police has made a significant number of arrests for sectarianism and racist behaviour at football matches and will continue to do so."

FFS, what has Murray turned us into :angry2:

[Poetry_In_Blue 1,043]

So when are Celtic fans going to be taken to court over chanting "h**" and pro IRA chants then?

[SuperRangers 2]

What a load of bull shite

Were exactly in that article does it mention "the famine song"

Apart from the sensationalist head line from BBC Scotchland

Heres the same article from newnow and it doesnt mention any famine song ?

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...4654496,00.html

William Walls, 20, was was also convicted of shouting sectarian abuse at a match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on November 9.

The supporter from Glasgow's Craigend area received two years probation at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court after being found guilty of breaching the peace.

It was stewards employed by Rangers who brought Walls' conduct to the attention of police.

Assistant Chief Constable John Nielson of Strathclyde Police said: "The force works closely with football clubs to eradicate any racist and/or sectarian behaviour in football - it will not be tolerated.

"Where any singing, chanting or other behaviour is perceived as being racist or sectarian in nature, we will take positive action.

"Over recent years, Strathclyde Police has made a significant number of arrests for sectarianism and racist behaviour at football matches and will continue to do so."

Kilmarnock district procurator fiscal Les Brown said: "The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service takes all instances of racism and bigotry very seriously.

"We will prosecute in court all offences which are aggravated by racial or religious prejudice.

"In this case, we worked closely with both police officers who were present at Rugby Park and senior officers to ensure that the full extent and impact of the accused's conduct was put before the court."

When did the famine song become sectarian :lol:

The guy couldve been done for anything e.g shouting fuck the pope or what not.

[NRyanRFC 7]

A Rangers fan has been given two years probation and a football banning order for singing the 'Famine Song'.

William Walls, 20, was found guilty of breach of the peace, aggravated by religious and racial prejudice, at Kilmarnock District Court.

The offence was committed at Rangers' away match at Kilmarnock on 9 November.

Rangers have asked fans to not to sing the song, which refers to events that killed an estimated one million people in Ireland in the 1840s.

Speaking after sentence, Kilmarnock District Procurator Fiscal, Les Brown, said: "The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service takes all instances of racism and bigotry very seriously.

"We will prosecute in court all offences which are aggravated by racial or religious prejudice.

Where any singing, chanting or other behaviour is perceived as being racist or sectarian in nature, we will take positive action

Asst Ch Con John Nielson

Strathclyde Police

"In this case we worked closely with both police officers who were present at Rugby Park and senior officers to ensure that the full extent and impact of the accused's conduct was put before the court.

"The key witnesses in this case were stewards employed by Rangers Football Club who brought Mr Walls' conduct to the attention of the police. I would like to thank them for the fair and frank manner in which they gave their evidence."

Assistant Chief Constable John Nielson, of Strathclyde Police, said: "We work closely with football clubs to eradicate any racist and/or sectarian behaviour in football - it will not be tolerated.

"Where any singing, chanting or other behaviour is perceived as being racist or sectarian in nature, we will take positive action.

"Over recent years, Strathclyde Police has made a significant number of arrests for sectarianism and racist behaviour at football matches and will continue to do so."

What the fuck!??

Its not as if he's singing "kill Irish catholics" <_<

[McBoyd 355]

What a load of rubbish

[Coopermania 1]

This is a joke, but its far from funny :angry2:

[cr1993 0]

The Famines Over Why Don't You Go Home

God Save Our Queen

[bluepeter 5,627]

What a load of bull shite

Were exactly in that article does it mention "the famine song"

Apart from the sensationalist head line from BBC Scotchland

Heres the same article from newnow and it doesnt mention any famine song ?

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,1...4654496,00.html

William Walls, 20, was was also convicted of shouting sectarian abuse at a match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on November 9.

The supporter from Glasgow's Craigend area received two years probation at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court after being found guilty of breaching the peace.

It was stewards employed by Rangers who brought Walls' conduct to the attention of police.

Assistant Chief Constable John Nielson of Strathclyde Police said: "The force works closely with football clubs to eradicate any racist and/or sectarian behaviour in football - it will not be tolerated.

"Where any singing, chanting or other behaviour is perceived as being racist or sectarian in nature, we will take positive action.

"Over recent years, Strathclyde Police has made a significant number of arrests for sectarianism and racist behaviour at football matches and will continue to do so."

Kilmarnock district procurator fiscal Les Brown said: "The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service takes all instances of racism and bigotry very seriously.

"We will prosecute in court all offences which are aggravated by racial or religious prejudice.

"In this case, we worked closely with both police officers who were present at Rugby Park and senior officers to ensure that the full extent and impact of the accused's conduct was put before the court."

When did the famine song become sectarian :lol:

The guy couldve been done for anything e.g shouting fuck the pope or what not.

True, the only mentions of TFS are by the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgo...est/7786133.stm

Fucking beggars belief

[*Manticore* 1,893]

http://www.kilmarnockstandard.co.uk/ayrshi...81430-22348515/

Rangers fan guilty over singing Famine Song at Rugby Park

Nov 26 2008

SINGING just two lines of the notorious "Famine Song" amounts to racism, a court has ruled in a landmark case.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Wednesday, a 20-year-old Rangers fan was found guilty of committing a breach of the peace - aggravated by religious and racial prejudice - during Rangers 4-0 victory over Killie on November 9.

And procurator fiscal Les Brown successfully argued that by singing the lines "The famine’s over, why don’t you go home?" William Walls, of Glasgow, had associated himself with other, more offensive elements of the song.

Walls, who had denied the offence, was remanded in custody until December 16 for social enquiry and community service reports.

During the trial, Sheriff Iona McDonald heard that Walls was seen singing the chorus of the song and other offensive remarks during the game by stewards employed by Rangers FC.

Nicola Tait, 24, said that one of her tasks was to monitor the Rangers support for sectarian behaviour, including the singing of the "Famine Song".

"The ‘Famine Song’ is one song that is not tolerated by Rangers," she told the court.

Miss Tait – a club steward for the last three years – said that her instructions were to take the seat numbers of those guilty of sectarian behaviour and report them to Rangers for further action.

Walls, she said, was seen on a number of occasions in the first and second halves standing up and singing.

He did this particularly when other fans had stopped singing the song, in an effort to get them to continue.

"He was up and down out his seat every two minutes," said Miss Tait. "He had been asked to sit down a few times by another steward."

She had reported his seat number at half-time and later saw him being escorted up the stairs by another steward and two police officers.

Fellow Rangers steward Michael Rennie, 38, also identified Walls as singing the two best-known lines of the "Famine Song".

He was also "constantly in the aisle", singing the song.

Two friends of Walls, who were at the game denied that their pal had sung the "Famine Song" or made any other sectarian comments.

Both claimed that the "Famine Song" had been sung by only a "small minority" of Rangers fans – in contrast to the evidence of stewards that as many as 90 per cent of the Rangers support in Rugby Park’s Moffat stand had taken part.

Under cross-examination by Mr Brown, one defence witness – David Hopkins, 25, of Glasgow – admitted that he had previously been banned from Ibrox, Hampden and Celtic Park.

Addressing Sheriff McDonald, Mr Brown argued that while it was accepted that, at most, Walls had sung only two lines of the "Famine Song", it would be clear to the majority of those there that it was "telling people from Ireland to go home".

"That, in itself, is a racist sentiment," he said.

By contrast, Bob McDowall, defending, argued that that would require a "quantum leap" by the court.

"Evidence is led that one or two lines are used and it is implied that the rest of the song is meant," he said. "Says who?"

Mr McDowall described the case as "novel" and "a very serious matter".

"Ireland and the Irish are not mentioned in that stanza," he pointed out.

Earlier Sheriff McDonald rejected a defence submission that there was no case to answer on the ground that the description of Walls’s conduct given in evidence could not amount to a breach of the peace.

Finding Walls guilty, Sheriff McDonald told him that "given the whole context" his conduct was "likely to be generally alarming and very disturbing to others".

After the verdict, Mr Brown revealed that the accused’s record included previous convictions for a breach of the peace with a football aggravation and for an offence with racial aggravations.

[Sequimur 0]

"one defence witness – David Hopkins, 25, of Glasgow – admitted that he had previously been banned from Ibrox, Hampden and Celtic Park"

Guy shot himself in the foot bringing that bloke as a witness.

[Guest Andypendek]

Staggering. Any pretence of being some 'establishment' club must be long gone, now, surely. This in particular is astounding:

his conduct was "likely to be generally alarming and very disturbing to others".

Singing? Alarming? If it was Cliff Richard giving it TFS I could see the point, but this is jaw-droppingly bad justice.

[*Manticore* 1,893]

On the other hand, s'pose timmy sings 'Northmen Southmen comrades all...' Surely they must be associating themselves with the advocating of genocide in 'soon there'll be no Protestants at all'?

[minstral 5,375]

our club are happy to see people getting a fine or the jail. but what cant you expect when we have a owner who hates his own fans, and would get you jailed just as quick as look at you.

[bluepeter 5,627]

On the other hand, s'pose timmy sings 'Northmen Southmen comrades all...' Surely they must be associating themselves with the advocating of genocide in 'soon there'll be no Protestants at all'?

Yep, as soon as Celtc employ stewards to travel to away games with them and grass up their fans, I'm sure this'll come to court.

[EKtrueBlue 2]

What a fucking joke..!

Tims sing there "irish folk songs" and not even a snippet in the papers but we sing our famine song and we get done for it

Fair enough if they deem it as unnaceptable but why the fuck isn't a word being said about celtics ira chants or aberdeens ibrox disaster songs... but yet when any of us speak out we are accused as being paranoid.

DISCUSTING !

[trueblue87 0]

They really have nothing more important to do? FFS the guy sang a song at a football match, if the PC movement continues to develop at this rate there'll be no singing at all at grounds in a couple of years. Virtually every chant could be found offensive by someone and therefore be branded racist/sectarian.

I think this "cartoon" illustrates it pretty well.

And worse, they're not even consistent about it. We get torn to shreds for every song we sing while over at the scumdome decades of terrorist-glorification, IRA-praise, songs about the murder of Rangers players and the Ibrox disaster go unpunished, are obviously accepted and seem to be of no interest to SPL, UEFA, mhedia, police,...

Disgusting.

[HighlandBear 1]

Rangers have had our own stewards follow us to away games for quite a few yrs now, as i had a fall out with a certain mar**** who used to be the supervisor for RS in the west enclosure. Silly fall out, over my card not working, one day, and me missing half a game cos the cow wouldnt open the gate, she went to get the polis on me, then the following week we were at rugby park and the boot took me aside told me to behave myself today..