Engineering boss guilty of sectarian train chant

THE boss of an engineering firm has been found guilty of singing sectarian songs on a train after a Rangers match last year.

By TIM BUGLER Wednesday, 11th March 2015, 7:12 pm

An engineering boss was found guilty of singing sectarian songs on a train. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Rory Carmichael, 51, is a director of his own aviation engineering company in Perthshire, Vanguard Engineering Solutions.

But on a train back from Rangers’ 1-1 draw with Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Championship in September he chanted offensive lyrics on a crowded train.

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Two middle-aged women left the carriage in alarm as Carmichael, who had been drinking, and a “boisterous” bunch of Rangers supporters joined the train at the Alloa terminus.

Stirling Sheriff Court was told that the fans began singing “Hello, hello, we’re the Billy Boys”.

A female conductor told them to shut up, and the rest of the fans piped down.

But veteran British Transport policeman Constable Craig Buchanan, 56, said he heard Carmichael, wearing a blue jersey, carry on with the song’s most offensive line, “We’re up to our knees in Fenian blood, surrender or you’ll die”.

Pc Buchanan and a colleague radioed ahead and Carmichael was arrested as he tried to change trains at Stirling for Perth.

Carmichael, of Airlie View, Alyth, Perthshire, pleaded not guilty to singing a football song containing offensive words, contrary to the Scottish Parliament’s anti-sectarianism laws. The incident occurred on September 20th 2014.

In evidence, he described himself as the “sole director of my own engineering company that specialises in aircraft structures.”

He insisted that the only songs he had sung on the train were Rule Brittannia and God Save The Queen.

Three defence witnesses also said the Billy Boys song was never sung.

Depute fiscal Lindsey Brooks submitted that the men were not telling the truth, in order to save Carmichael from a matches ban.

She said: “It is simple incredible that the officers should make that up.”

Sheriff Gillian Wade said she had no reason to disbelieve the police, and found Carmichael guilty.

She fined him £750 and imposed a football banning order to run until the end of the season.

She said: “This was not acceptable behaviour.”

Outside court, Carmichael told a reporter: “Stick it up your arse.”

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