Quote Of The Day: “It Is Used To Cause Offense” – Paul McBride QC.

This week saw Celtic Underground have Paul McBride QC on the podcast. McBride last season came to prominence when our club decided to take on the SFA. It was a fight that we won.

The conversation was wide reaching and informative. The QC said:

“I think using the word H*n is offensive. It’s used to cause offense.”

With the implementation of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, Salmonds Law,  due for January next year, for me this is a warning shot at how the law see’s the word.

The word was grasped on by R*ngers fans. They needed their version of F*nian. The problem is with them choosing that word they trivialise the matter. They had plenty of other things to be offended about but a word that has been used in non-sectarian terms for as long as I can remember is a sign of desperation and pettiness.

Like most things they never engage their brains before they speak.

The reaction on Twitter and such has seen McBride come in for some criticism. Unsure why. Did folk really believe that he was some sort of Celtic superhero? Ludicrous thought.

He did come across at times as a party political broadcast for the PLC but i’m sure the vast majority of the Celtic support would agree with his sentiments that IRA songs have no place at football and should be gotten rid off.

I fully understand the arguments for these songs, I have fully backed those arguments but I’m tired now and are willing to embrace that moving on is the right thing to do.

The reason for this? Well, I believe that dropping these songs we lose nothing from our identity, our heritage and our founder fathers. Nadda. Zilch.

The law has been changed so that singing of these songs is now captured. Yes, it’s a cop out and appeals to the persecuted default setting to shout loudly against this bill. Those shouting loudly will eventually be drowned out by the rustling of court papers on a Monday morning.

I do fear the common sense approach that Mr McBride says will be taken. I see more of an make an example of approach to applying this law. Many innocents maybe lost in the battle.

So lets have a song debate.

Previously on thecelticblog