St Andrews University expels man found guilty of racially abusing Jewish student
A St Andrews University student's career plans are in tatters after he was found guilty of defiling an Israeli flag.
Posters outside Cupar Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
- By Dave Lord
- Published in the Courier : 24.08.11
- Published online : 24.08.11 @ 11.47am
Paul Donnachie rubbed his hands on his genitals before wiping them on the flag, which belonged to Jewish exchange student Chanan Reitblat (21), before shouting about "a nation built on terrorism" and "they are all suicide bombers."
The 19-year-old was immediately expelled from university after he was found guilty of the offence at Cupar Sheriff Court on Tuesday. The offence was deemed to be racially aggravated.
Samuel Colchester (20), who faced an identical charge, was acquitted after the case against him was found to be not proven. He was nevertheless suspended from the university for one year following an internal investigation by chiefs at the world-renowned seat of learning.
Mr Reitblat, who fled Communist Lithuania as a child to escape "severe Jewish oppression," said he felt "utterly violated" by the offence, which was committed on March 12 in the halls of residence he shared with the accused.
A packed court watched as Donnachie took to the witness stand on Tuesday. He said he had been "politically active" for several years and added that he was a member of the St Andrews University Palestine group.
Donnachie did not dispute making comments about Israel being a "terrorist state" after entering Mr Reitblat's room in a drunken sate on the day in question. He also freely admitted rubbing his genitals before wiping his hands on the flag Mr Reitblat had pinned above his bed.
However, the teenager insisted his actions represented a legitimate, if misguided, form of political protest.
The flag had been given to Mr Reitblat by his brother, who had previously fought with the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).
"I had drunk six or seven pints and perhaps two or three alcopops," Donnachie told the court. "I made some comments about the flag and stated that Israel is a terrorist state."
When asked by his solicitor Patrick Campbell if he had "done something with his hands and the flag," Donnachie replied: "Yes, I did."
"Disrespecting the flag is a time-honoured method of expressing one's disapproval with the actions of a state," he continued. "This was a political statement and not a statement about one individual."
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