Shiels’ courage hailed by Dunfermline boss

Allan Johnston has praised Dean Shiels’ ‘courage’ after the Dunfermline midfielder found himself at the centre of an abuse row with rivals Falkirk.

Bairns striker Kevin O’hara was banned for eight matches by the Scottish FA for abusing Shiels because he has only one eye, while another disciplinary case against Joe Mckee was yesterday adjourned until December 5.

Shiels lost sight in one eye when he was eight and had surgery to remove it in 2006.

The impairment has brought abuse from supporters in the past, but the 32-year-old reported to Johnston that the comments aimed at him in an ill-tempered Irn-bru Cup tie against Falkirk last month were the first directed by an opponent on the pitch.

Johnston insists the Pars will continue to rally round the former Hibs, Rangers and Kilmarnock play-maker over the unsavoury incident.

He said: “The SFA have taken swift action to make sure it doesn’t happen again and Deano showed a bit of courage as well because I think he felt, because of the people he spoke to with similar problems, that if he never did anything about it he’d be letting them down.

“Dean’s a really professional guy and was really angered by what was said, and rightly so.

“He (O’hara) has crossed the line and you can’t say stuff like that. I think he apologised as well, but he knows you can’t get away with stuff like that.

“We have to make sure we help Dean and that he gets the support he needs from the club, the supporters and everybody around him to make sure he gets his performances right on the park.

“He knows how much the club’s supporting him. The supporters and everybody’s getting behind him, so I’m sure that will help.”

Shiels will again be an important figure for Dunfermline as they begin their Scottish Cup quest against Queen’s Park at Hampden tomorrow.

Dean Shiels: abused on pitch.