Sheriff’s judgment sending out wrong message

Sir,—Whether Sheriff Dunbar (Courier, Saturday March 17) was correct in law when he cleared a Rangers fan of breach of the peace for shouting sectarian and racist abuse, I do not know.

I do know, however, that by clearing him on the grounds that his abuse did not upset anyone in the vicinity—because the stand was full of Rangers supporters—he is sending out the wrong message to those who are tasked with policing football matches (police and stewards).

How can stewards now determine if the foul mouth abuse of football hooligans is objectionable when most reasonable witnesses to such aggression would be too intimidated to object?

The sheriff would appear to be saying that the stewards who reported Dryburgh and the police who arrested him were not offended by his bigoted bellowing!

The sheriff’s reasons for his judgment also seems to suggest that all Rangers supporters are bigots who find racial/religious insults to be acceptable.

In this he does Rangers FC and the majority of their decent fans a disservice at a time when they are trying to rid the club of its sectarian baggage.

Applying some common sense

Sir,—I write with regard to the story, Abuse case man walks free, published in Saturday’s paper.

I found it enlightening and encouraging that Sheriff Dunbar used common sense and context in his deliberating of the facts in this case.

No one condones racism or sectarianism but he rightly advocated a “no victim-no crime” verdict.

Sheriffs, judges, police chiefs, but most importantly, politicians, should take note and follow Sheriff Dunbar’s example when dealing with cases regarding self medication with cannabis.

Public opinion is rapidly growing in favour of campaigns such as the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, Humanitarian Medicinal Distribution and the UKCIA who openly call for a “no victim- no crime” approach.

Granny Pat Tabram’s court case in Carlisle for cultivation was widely televised and headline news. Neil Morgan awaits trial in Swansea for growing his own medication.

I was personally in court with Pat and saw an outdated legal system tell an old woman that she had to stay in pain, return to using walking sticks and a neckbrace ALL while carrying out 250 hours’ community service and paying a £1000 fine. If she doesn’t or cannot comply she will go to jail where they will force her to do it.

Had the judge or the British legal system considered the facts along the lines that Sheriff Dunbar has, they would’ve realised that there is “no victim” and there is “no crime” in these cases.

I really hope this is the start of some consideration of basic human rights and not merely a flash in the pan look at the modern day application of Victorian draconian laws.

Thank you Sheriff Dunbar for showing us that there is at least one sheriff who can think and apply common sense to the law as it so wrongly stands.

Dismay over date change

Sir,—I refer to Mr Lamberts’ letter, March 16, querying the date of the much anticipated return of the Fife Structure Plan from the Executive.

Many Madras College parents await this with great anticipation, too. Councillor Tom Dair, chairman of the Children’s Services Committee at Fife Council, has said that the future of school infrastructure in north-east Fife is greatly dependent on the Executive’s conclusions regarding the plan (CSC meeting 11/01/07).

Imagine my dismay when I faithfully checked the Fife Council website public consultations diary to discover that the planned period for this consultation of June/ July 2007 has magically slipped to October/November 2007. Do the council know something we don’t?

After many years of waiting for action on resolving the estates issues of the school ,even the prospect of a few months’ delay is extremely frustrating.

On the bright side, I suppose it gives our local councillors and MSP more time to promise to resolve this long-standing issue.

82 Crosshill Terrace,

Wormit,

Newport-on-Tay.

Surprised by poor response

Sir,—I am, to say the least, surprised that the only communication relating to the offshore power stations proposed by Mr Macdonald (Courier, March 9) was to dispute the amount of energy produced by hydro-electric schemes as a proportion of the total UK energy generation.

Where is the power required to drive the pump mentioned in the article going to come from?

Mr Macdonald is reported as saying that his idea is so simple that it is unbelievable—in the production of energy, if such a thought occurs, it invariably is just that.

My only fear about such a device is that perhaps some of our political masters in Edinburgh might see the article and think ‘now there’s a good idea’.

Only minor improvements

Sir,—I read with interest in The Courier about the relief at the opening of the A923 at a cost of £400,000.

Having suffered a serious loss of business during the eight weeks the road was closed I drove down it with great anticipation to see what had been achieved and was appalled at the minor improvements that had been carried out.

Surely it was unnecessary to close the road for that length of time?

How much will it cost to rectify the damage caused to the alternative routes used during this time?