A suspicious package addressed to Donald Findlay QC arrived at Cowdenbeath FC’s Central Park on Monday in what is believed to be a retaliatory gesture in the latest episode of sectarian-related incidents in Scotland.
Streets around Central Park were sealed off as bomb disposal experts investigated the package. It is understood the package was not a bomb but was designed to cause alarm to Mr Findlay.
A Cowdenbeath director told The Courier the package “stood out like a sore thumb” and that Mr Findlay had recently been briefed by police that this kind of action may take place following bomb threats to Celtic FC manager Neil Lennon and Mr Findlay’s past association with Rangers FC.
The package was addressed to Cowdenbeath chairman Donald Findlay at Central Park and discovered by member of staff John Cameron, who then notified Fife Constabulary. Scores of officers then descended on Central Park and the ground was evacuated for safety reasons.
Scott Brewster, one of the directors of Cowdenbeath FC, told The Courier the package had been addressed to the QC and that he had been warned this might happen.
“The package was addressed to Donald Findlay at the ground and was found by John Cameron,” he said. “It stood out like a sore thumb, so the police were contacted. Officers visited the stadium and the ground was evacuated.
“Donald thinks it was due to sectarianism a retaliatory gesture after all the bomb and bullet threats to Celtic manager Neil Lennon.”Briefed by policeAnd he revealed that Mr Findlay (60) who was born in Cowdenbeath and educated at Harris Academy in Dundee had been told to beware of such incidents.
“Donald had been briefed by the police that this might happen in light of the packages sent to Neil Lennon,” Mr Brewster added.
He said he understood the suspicious package was not “live.”
“The package was given the all-clear so I guess that it amounted to nothing,” he added.
Mr Findlay, who is defending a client at Dundee Sheriff Court, declined to comment to The Courier on the matter yesterday.
Celtic boss Lennon has been the target of a concerted hate campaign with packages sent to Celtic’s training ground, bullets sent to his home address and last week he was attacked by a fan at Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh.
Mr Findlay was previously vice-chairman of Rangers and is known for his staunch support for Unionism in Scotland.
In May 1999, he was accused of sectarianism following footage of him singing at a private party organised by a Rangers Supporters’ Club after the Scottish Cup Final that year when Rangers beat Celtic 1-0. This led to his resignation from the club.
Mr Findlay was cleared of misconduct by the Faculty of Advocates in 2007 after a complaint regarding his conduct at a Rangers Supporters’ Club in Larne in 2005 when he is alleged to have made a joke about the death of Pope John Paul II.Small-mindedHe became chairman of Cowdenbeath FC in June last year.
Stuart Juner, chairman of the Cowden Trust, said he found the situation “absolutely ludicrous” and feared that it might lead to Mr Findlay cutting his ties with the club.
“I had heard about this. It’s awful that small-minded individuals can do this,” he said. “However, there are people who bear grudges for a long time. The world would be a better place without them.
“It’s awful that this has come to Cowdenbeath. The worry now is that we would not want to lose a man of such calibre and standing as Mr Findlay due to the likes of this.”
He added, “When he was appointed chairman of the club, we agreed to move along with the plans for a new stadium at his pace.”
A spokesman for Fife Constabulary said officers were stood down around 1pm.
He said, “Fife Constabulary can confirm that officers were called to Central Park, home of Cowdenbeath FC, in relation to a suspicious package which had been delivered to the address this morning. Initial police resources at the scene have now been stood down.
“Police were called at around 9am. We can’t give details of the package for operational reasons.”
Cowdenbeath FC who were relegated to the second division on Saturday following defeat in the two-leg play-off against Brechin have submitted plans with Fife Council for the sale of Central Park, which they hope will allow them to move to a new “community-based” stadium in Broad Street.