Teenage thug’s f lare rant shame during referendum result rampage

A TEENAGER has admitted committing a string of offences in Glasgow city centre on the day the result of Scotland’s independence referendum was announced.

Kieran Christie, 19, held a lit flare in the air amid a crowd of people at George Square on September 19, last year.

He went on to abuse three men in the street and shouted insults at women who exchanged words with his friend.

Christie, of Springboig, Glasgow, admitted culpably and recklessly lighting the flare, two charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and being in possession of a bottle as an offensive weapon.

Another man, Dylan France, of Dennistoun in the city’s East End, admitted a breach of the peace by fighting on Buchanan Street, Glasgow.

It was reported at the time that a number of arrests were made after trouble broke out in the city after the referendum result was announced.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that a picture of Christie holding the flare was printed in a newspaper.

Procurator fiscal depute Niall Macdonald said: ‘The flare when lit is very hot, at the lit part extremely hot.’

He told how, at around 10.30pm, Christie was with a group of people at St Enoch Square.

After his friend exchanged words with two women, Nichole Whitton and Nicole Mann, he shouted foul abuse at them.

Mr Macdonald said that Christie yelled vulgar names at them in an aggressive manner.

Around half an hour later, the teenager approached three men on Buchanan Street and aggressively asked, ‘What f****** side are you on?’ The court heard the men believed this was a reference to the referendum and they ran off.

Christie shouted a barrage of foulmouthed, racial abuse as they fled. He then came face to face with the men again on Renfield Street where he brandished a glass bottle.

The three men then chased Christie into Central Station where they knew there would be police officers on duty, and he was arrested.

Mr Macdonald said France was on Buchanan Street with friends when another group ran towards him.

He was punched by someone and tried to hit the person back.

Sentence was deferred on Christie and France until next month and their bail was continued.