• Text size      
  • Send this article to a friend
  • Print this article

Punishment must be condign for sectarian crimes

The conviction yesterday of Trevor Muirhead and Neil McKenzie for sending parcel bombs to Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager, two other high-profile supporters of the club and an Irish republican organisation, is a reminder of how deep the dangerous tentacles of sectarian bigotry reach into pockets of Scottish society.

Once again, football provided the background to the expression of this hatred but the crime had nothing to do with the sport. The victims were chosen because, in the perpetrators' confused minds, their association with Celtic could be linked to Irish republicanism, and their high profile in public life would guarantee headlines.

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.