A thug who wrote sectarian hate comments on Facebook has been jailed, leading to doubts about whether new laws are really needed.
The Scottish Government is proposing new anti-sectarian laws, but opponents say they are so badly worded that free speech and religious liberty would be damaged.
One of the proposals is to clamp down on people using the internet to stir up sectarian hatred.
Jailed
But critics will say the jailing of Stephen Birrell shows that the current law is sufficient to deal with the problem.
Birrell wrote about “Catholic scumbags” on the internet site, Facebook, adding: “Hope they all die”. He also wrote: “Proud to hate Fenian tattie farmers”.
He was jailed for eight months, reduced from twelve months because he pleaded guilty.
Rally
Meanwhile, opposition to the Scottish Government’s sectarianism Bill continues to grow.
A large group of Celtic Football Club supporters are set to hold a protest against the proposed legislation.
Up to 600 fans are planning to demonstrate in the centre of Glasgow on Saturday 28 October.
Unnecessary
Joe O’Rourke, general secretary of the Celtic Supporters Association, said: “It’s not for me to tell other supporters how they feel about the proposed bill.
“But if they feel like we feel – that it’s unnecessary political posturing done on a whim – then by all means they should do something about it as well.”
The sporting rivalry between Glasgow’s two biggest football clubs – Celtic and Rangers – is often regarded as a focal point of sectarian tension.
United
The last football season saw a number of highly publicised sectarian incidents which caused the Scottish Government to propose its Bill.
But on the issue of the Bill, the supporters of Celtic and Rangers – plus other clubs – share similar concerns.
Supporters of Rangers Football Club have displayed banners at Ibrox Stadium with slogan: “SNP – weak on criminals, tough on fans”.
Liberty
Leading figures from both clubs have criticised the proposed legislation, so too have civil liberty groups and opposition politicians.
The Christian Institute has legal advice showing that the Bill – as currently worded – could catch ordinary religious debate, damaging free speech and civil liberty.