THE life of a Celtic football supporter became a misery after he was
accused of hitting Mo Johnston, of Rangers, on the head with a pie
during an Old Firm match, Glasgow Sheriff Court was told yesterday.
''Hate mail'' was sent to the home of Mr Ronnie Taylor, 25, a janitor,
at Glenrothes in Fife. ''He and his wife and even their four-year-old
child have suffered greatly because of this pie throwing incident,''
said defending lawyer Miss Patricia MacLeod.
She said that the pie that Mr Taylor threw was not the one that hit
the Rangers player after he had taken a corner kick just before
half-time.
Miss MacLeod said that after a video tape of the affair had been
studied the Crown had withdrawn the allegation that the accused had
assaulted the player with a pie.
Mr Taylor, of Reid Place, Glenrothes, admitted an amended charge that
he conducted himself in a disorderly manner, shouted, swore, threw a pie
on to the pitch, and committed a breach of the peace.
Sheriff Andrew Gibb fined him #100.
Miss Mary McCrory, prosecuting, said that two minutes before half-time
in the match on November 4, police at the Broomloan Road stand observed
the accused in the second front row. ''He was shouting and swearing and
gesticulating towards the field of play at a time when various objects,
including pies, were being thrown,'' she said.
She added: ''One of the Rangers' players, Maurice Johnston, was struck
on the back of the head with a pie and the accused was arrested.''
Miss MacLeod said that Taylor and his family had become greatly
distressed at the tone and volume of ''hate mail'' that followed his
arrest. ''In matters like this people get fired up,'' she said.
Sheriff Gibb replied: ''That is why he should not behave this way.
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