A Rutherglen bigot has been fined £900 after admitting abusing a Premiership referee in the aftermath of an Old Firm game.
Paul Keenan, 33, added match whistler John Beaton to two WhatsApp groups before labelling him a “dirty cheating b******” and a “f****** w*****” and making IRA references.
Beaton, 37, called in police after being subjected to abuse when his mobile phone number was leaked online.
It followed a Glasgow derby at Ibrox which saw Rangers beat Celtic 1-0 .
Keenan, of Rutherglen , appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted sending messages containing grossly offensive, menacing and sectarian remarks aggravated by religious prejudice.
The dad-of-one was fined by Sheriff Linda Nicolson, who told him it would have been £1200 if he had not pleaded guilty.
Depute fiscal Sarah Latta said: “The complainer was a referee at a Rangers v Celtic football match on December 29.
“He was subjected to significant criticism online and his mobile number had been posted on the social media platform Twitter. He had a number of texts and phone calls as a result of this being shared.
“The accused had added the complainer to a WhatsApp group on January 5.
“He thereafter removed the complainer from that group chat and then added the complainer to another group chat and again sent a message saying ‘Mr Beaton make yourself a home with the rest of the Orange b*******’ followed by another which read ‘John you f****** a******* IRA’.
“He was thereafter removed from the group chat by the accused.”
Paul McCue, defending, said: “He wasn’t sure if the number actually belonged to Mr Beaton but recognises that even if it wasn’t, it would have belonged to someone and the remarks he made were completely offensive. He very much regrets his conduct and could pay a financial penalty.”
Addressing Keenan, Sheriff Nicolson said: “Your conduct here was disgraceful in putting out that sort of language but, with some hesitation, I will deal with this by a fine.”
Two other Celtic fans have also admitted bombarding Mr Beaton with sectarian abuse in the aftermath of the same match.
