Bigot's shame

Published 10 Mar 2010 14:20

By Ewan McInnes

A SCHOOL carer faces the sack after he was caught singing a sectarian song outside a football stadium.

Disgraced Willam Allison admitted to singing the 'Famine Song' outside Ibrox stadium just minutes before an Old Firm match.

Now the Rangers supporter, who works as a carer at an after-school club, could be dismissed after appearing in court on the racially aggravated offence.

His admission comes as all schools in Barrhead prepare to get involved with a series of events in a bid to combat sectarianism in the town.

Later this year pupils at the town's schools will participate, under their Anti-Sectarianism Kids (ASK) banner, in a march through the town.

Allison pleaded guilty to singing the song, which is considered offensive to Irish Catholics, and to forming part of a disorderly crowd in October last year.

Defence lawyer Jeremy Cram asked for the 20-year-old to be granted an absolute discharge so that his record would remain in tact but Sheriff Isobel Poole has called for background reports before making a decision.

Allison, of Glennifer View, Neilston appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court and pled guilty to committing a racially aggravated breach of the peace at Edmiston Drive on October 4, last year.

Prosecutor Barney Ross told the court that police were watching a group of Rangers fans, who had gathered outside the stadium when they noticed Allison, who has since been banned from Ibrox, singing the offensive song.

Mr Ross said: "The Rangers fans were gathering at a police cordon beside the stadium which was separating the two sets of fans.

"At that time they saw the accused singing the Famine Song.

"The chorus contains the words 'the famine is over why don't you go home' and is directed against the Irish Catholic population.

"The accused was then arrested and made no reply to caution and charge."

Mr Cram, defending Allison, told the court that his client has no previous convictions and stands to lose his job because he has to pass an enhanced disclosure check to work with children.

The lawyer added: "Mr Allison is responsible for looking after children from many different backgrounds and would stand to lose his job if he received anything other than an absolute discharge.

"Although this is a racially aggravated offence, Mr Allison is keen to point out that he is not a racist.

"This took place during an 0ld Firm match and he claims that there was some level of banter in the form of offensive singing being battered back and forth between the two sides."

Sheriff Poole deferred sentence until later this month for background reports.

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This article appeared in Barrhead News 10 Mar 10

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