A Celtic fan accused of calling his own team's supporters "Fenian b*******” has been cleared of religious bigotry after telling a court he was a Roman Catholic who regularly went to chapel.

Sean Patrick McInrue, 21, told a trial he was a devout Catholic and that there was no way he would use the term Fenian to describe anyone.

Two police officers told Perth Sheriff Court they saw McInrue, a carer, flick the V-sign at Celtic fans before shouting "F*** you, you Fenian b******s."

Inspector Scott Simpson, 45, of the Greater Glasgow Violence Reduction Unit, told the court he was working at the live televised match between St Johnstone and Celtic last December. He said he had left the ground to walk to a different stand when he came across McInrue and friends leaving before half time because of the cold weather and dull football.

Insp Simpson said: "One of them gesticulated a V-sign with his fingers and shouted 'f*** you, you Fenian b*******.'

It was directed at people in the North Stand. They were Celtic supporters. "I arrested him. The manner in which the term was used is a derogatory term for a Catholic. It could incite disorder and certainly cause offence. "He said he was a Celtic fan and didn't see what was wrong because he was shouting at Celtic fans. It was irrelevant to me what team he supported."

McInrue, who was locked up overnight after his arrest, told the court he was a Celtic supporter who went to all of the club's matches at home and abroad. He said he attended Our Lady of Peace Primary School, took communion at eight, and had formerly attended chapel every Friday night.

Asked about the bigoted comments, he denied making them and said: "I would never say that, even if it was a joke amongst ourselves. I feel strongly about my religion. It's a pack of lies."

McInrue was banned from watching Celtic's matches since his arrest as a condition of bail and yesterday he was found not guilty of the crime.

McInrue, Greenwood Road, Irvine, had denied "engaging in behaviour directed towards others who were perceived to be members of a religious group, namely Roman Catholics."

The charge alleged he was likely to incite public disorder by shouting, swearing and making offensive gestures towards supporters of Celtic Football Club and "calling them Fenian b*******."

Sheriff Richard MacFarlane said: "Part of the argument offered by you is that because of your faith and religion and background you wouldn't say such things. I'm in some difficulty reconciling these two very opposing and competing versions of what happened. I am trying to work out where the truth of what happened lies.

"I'm not sure I'm able to truly reconcile what happened. I find you not guilty."

McInrue admitted having cocaine when he was arrested and was fined£250.