Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Never mind the Orange Nazi outfits focus on Neil Lennon’
What cop allegedly said after complaint
A SCOTTISH cop is being investigated after allegedly telling a woman who complained about people in Nazi outfits at an Orange Lodge to focus on Neil Lennon’s conduct instead.
The officer is also accused of saying the woman was “easily offended” despite widespread condemnation of the pictures.
Police Scotland yesterday confirmed the probe and also pledged to review its investigation into the Orange Lodge event despite initially ruling “no offences have been established”.
Officers received pictures of Halloween revellers dressed in offensive costumes at Airdrie District Orange Hall and Social Club.
The images – posted on Facebook but later removed – included a man dressed as Hitler giving a Nazi salute and posing with children wearing a yellow star – which Jewish people were forced to wear in Nazi Germany. Another showed a man dressed as the Pope with a noose around his neck.
The photos were published on the Whinhall True Blues Flute Band Facebook page and reportedly date from 2010 and 2013.
Their publication prompted a woman, who asked not to be named, to call police.
She said: “I was horrified. On the day I read it I called Police Scotland and complained.
“I didn’t hear anything back so I called them again on Saturday, August 26, and spoke to an officer who was just so offensive it was unbelievable.”
The officer, who claimed to have 20 years’ experience, allegedly told her “people can dress up in whatever they want” and said she was “easily offended” and “over-sensitive”.
She claimed he refused to take details of her complaint, insisting there was no criminality.
The woman added: “He then said if I want to talk about offensive behaviour I should instead discuss Neil Lennon.”
The Hibs manager was criticised over his touchline behaviour after his side’s first goal in a 3-2 win over Rangers last month.
Police decided no criminality occurred following complaints by Rangers fans.
The woman added: “I said I had no interest in discussing Neil Lennon.
“I then reiterated that I thought the behaviour of people at the fancy dress parties constituted a hate crime but he basically refused to take the complaint.”
When the woman pressed the complaint about the cop’s conduct, a senior officer allegedly told her they would have an “informal chat” with the officer and “counsel him about his views”.
Dave Scott, campaign director with anti-sectarian charity Nil By Mouth said: “Any reported hate crime should be properly and formally considered by officers and fiscals in order to ensure the public have faith in the system.”