Man jailed for sectarian rant during Orange march

Jul 31 2008 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON man was last week jailed for a sectarian rant during a recent Orange march.

Colin Campbell had abused two police officers in Larkhall’s Donaldson Street before launching a torrent of sectarian abuse.

Several thousand spectators had lined a 3.2-mile route through the town on July 5 to watch 12,000 marchers, including 70 bands.

Police made 24 arrests, and more than 100 people were issued with Fixed Penalty Notices, although it is believed none of those taken into custody were participants in the parade.

Superintendent Ian Callander of Hamilton Police Office had expressed disappointment at the number of arrests and the general level of antisocial behaviour.

Campbell admitted charges of breach of the peace and resisting arrest, both aggravated by religious prejudice, at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week.

Each offence took place while the 36-year-old was on bail on another matter.

Not guilty pleas to charges of assaulting a police officer by attempting to butt him, and possessing cannabis resin, were accepted by the Crown.

Constables Grant McLean and Gary Crossan were on patrol in uniform on the day of the County Grand Lodge of Central Scotland event commemorating the Battle of the Boyne.

Fiscal depute Jackie Spiers said the officers were approached by Campbell who shouted at them: ‘youse are a pair of p*****.’

The officers warned the accused about his behaviour, but he continued to shout, telling them: ‘Go on, f****** jail me ya c****.’

Campbell then shouted ‘ya pair of p*****’ before calling them ‘dirty Fenian b*******’ and ‘black b*******.’

Ms Spiers said that as Campbell was taken to a police vehicle he continued his rant, shouting: ‘f*** the Pope’ and dirty Fenian b*******.’

His solicitor Charles Ferguson told Sheriff Smart that his client fully accepted his conduct had been unacceptable and he could only apologise.

However, the lawyer recognised that given Campbell’s criminal record, which included previous convictions aggravated by religious prejudice, he could only be sent to prison.

Mr Ferguson stressed that Campbell was highly thought of by his employers and his job was still open to him.

It was also pointed out by the solicitor that the accused had drank to excess that day and had little recollection of the incident.

Sheriff Smart sentenced Campbell, of Woodside Walk, to six months’ imprisonment on each charge.

One month of each sentence was for the bail aggravation and the terms were to run concurrently.