Bigots Beware
A judge at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday jailed an Internet bigot - Stephen Birrell - who admitted posting sectarian comments about the Celtic manager - Neil Lennon.
Stephen Birrell was sent to prison for 8 months - and also faces a football banning order for 5 years - which will prevent him from regulated football matches anywhere in the UK.
The judge - Sheriff Bill Totten - said what Birrell had comitted a hate crime which would not be tolerated by "the right thinking people of Glasgow and Scotland".
The judge also explained that a prison sentence was imposed because he wanted to send a clear message and a warning - to other potential offenders.
Now I don't know much about this chap - Stephen Birrell - apart from the fact that he's obviously a few egg sandwiches short - of a full picnic.
But I suspect that he has a criminal record - is uneducated, semi-literate - and probably lives on long-term benefits.
In which case I don't know how 8 months in prison - reduced to 4 for good behaviour - is going to turn his life around and prevent further re-offending.
So I agree with the judge's decision - but what I'm not convinced about is that it goes far enough to deal with the underlying issues.
The police have asked for new powers to crack down on this kind of sectarian behaviour - yet some try to portray this as a threat to civil liberties and freedom of speech.
To my mind that's just opposition for the sake of opposition - when what Scotland really needs is for our political leaders to speak with one, united voice.
Stephen Birrell was sent to prison for 8 months - and also faces a football banning order for 5 years - which will prevent him from regulated football matches anywhere in the UK.
The judge - Sheriff Bill Totten - said what Birrell had comitted a hate crime which would not be tolerated by "the right thinking people of Glasgow and Scotland".
The judge also explained that a prison sentence was imposed because he wanted to send a clear message and a warning - to other potential offenders.
Now I don't know much about this chap - Stephen Birrell - apart from the fact that he's obviously a few egg sandwiches short - of a full picnic.
But I suspect that he has a criminal record - is uneducated, semi-literate - and probably lives on long-term benefits.
In which case I don't know how 8 months in prison - reduced to 4 for good behaviour - is going to turn his life around and prevent further re-offending.
So I agree with the judge's decision - but what I'm not convinced about is that it goes far enough to deal with the underlying issues.
The police have asked for new powers to crack down on this kind of sectarian behaviour - yet some try to portray this as a threat to civil liberties and freedom of speech.
To my mind that's just opposition for the sake of opposition - when what Scotland really needs is for our political leaders to speak with one, united voice.
