SENT RACIAL REMARKS AND THREATS BY EMAIL

Dave Coull · SENT RACIAL REMARKS AND THREATS BY EMAIL

From "The Courier", Wednesday, 25th July, 2007

SENT RACIAL REMARKS AND THREATS BY EMAIL

A 44 year old Dundee man who sent emails to a female former political party colleague was fined £250 at Arbroath Sherriff Court yesterday and was told his conduct was "a disgrace to the shirt you are wearing".

Colin Lawrence Morton, who appeared in the dock wearing a black shirt emblazoned with the words "Scottish Socialist Freedom Movement", had previously ADMITTED that between June 22 and September 20 last year, at his home address in Atholl Street and elsewhere, he pursued a RACIALLY-AGGRAVATED COURSE OF CONDUCT WHICH AMOUNTED TO HARRASSMENT OF A WOMAN in respect that he repeatedly sent emails containing racial remarks and threats, placing the woman in a state of fear and alarm.

The court was told that at the time of the offences Morton and his VICTIM - who is English by birth - had both been members of the Scottish Socialist Party and had attended meetings and conferences throughout Scotland.

When Morton indicated his intention to form a Dundee branch of the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement the woman expressed an interest and attended the first meeting - the only other people there being Morton and his girl-friend.

Morton, the court heard, appeared to develop a dislike of the womanand following an altercation at a conference in Bannockburn, he sent a series of emails including references to English imperialism and telling her to "be warned".

When the matter was reported to the police, Morton told intervuiewing officers that he could not explain his conduct but said the woman had failed to give him a lift to a party conference in Bannockburn.

He told the police that he had been drunk at the time and that he did not condone any kind of violence.

Visiting Sherriff A.G. Johnston told Morton "You strike me as an intelligent man but you are a disgrace to the shirt you are wearing when you behaved like this".

"This behaviour was both racially and politically biased and that cannot be condoned by the courts."

Dave Coull

What the sherriff presumably meant when he said that Larry was "a disgrace to the shirt you are wearing" was that any organiased group would be ashamed to be associated with such behaviour. But in actual fact Larry was, many months ago, expelled from, first, the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement (SRSM) and later he was also expelled from Independence First (for conduct liable to bring the campaign into disrepute). The tee-shirt Larry was wearing was a "Scottish Socialist Freedom Movement" one, and Larry could not be expelled from that, for the simple reason that he IS the SSFM. It's a one man band. Although Larry can be in two (or more) minds about things, he obviously isn't going to expell himself.

Despite this, Larry continues to pretend to folk who don't know any better that he is some sort of freedom fighter. FACT : Larry pleaded GUILTY to racially aggravated harrassment of a woman, placing her in a state of fear and alarm. FACT : Larry sought to diminish the seriousness of this harrassment lasting several months by saying he was drunk at the time. FACT : the reason he was refused a lift was because things had already reached the stage where the woman concerned very sensibly decided she did not want to be in a car with him for several hours. FACT : Larry has endorsed the use of violence in Ireland (for instance) yet he told the police that "he did not condone any kind of violence".

A true freedom fighter would NOT have had to plead guilty to racially aggravated harrassment of a woman, a true freedom fighter would NOT seek to excuse their actions by saying they were drunk at the time, and a true freedom fighter would NOT lie about "not condoning any kind of violence".

Aventinian

I'm surprised he was allowed into court dressed like that.

carol

I suggest you take it up with Larry than blast this on a public forum Dave. I know the victim and was at Bannockburn and it wasn't a conference. I didn't know the outcome and don't think the victim is going to be too pleased I found out the whole mess being discussed here. Please do have some sensitivity to the victim rather than glorifying your attack on Larry

Dave Coull

Carol wrote "I know the victim" - so do I. "and was at Bannockburn and it wasn't a conference" - of course the Bannockburn rally wasn't a conference, most readers of this forum could figure that out, the victim herself commented on that inaccuracy in the 'Courier' story, but she said that otherwise it was mostly accurate. Not the full story, but mostly accurate. "I suggest you take it up with Larry" - doing that has never done the slightest bit of good in the past. Even now, Larry continues to present himself, internationally, through the internet, as some kind of freedom fighter. It is necessary for folk in Scotland and in other countries who may come in contact with that pretence to be told that there is another way of seeing things.

Ethan.K.McCarthy

Dave Coull

Aventinian wrote "I'm surprised he was allowed into court dressed like that".

Maybe he had some top layer on which he took off to reveal the slogan on his shirt when he went into the dock. In any case, it appears this particular sherriff may have had rather more sympathy with Scottishness and with socialism and with freedom than yourself, Aventinian, but considered that, by his behaviour, Larry had disgraced any cause with which he claimed to be associated. Which of course was true. But Larry had been expelled by the SRSM (Scottish Republican Socialist Movement) the best part of a year before. As for Independence First, Larry had been suspended from membership in November 2006, and then formally expelled in January. But since Larry's tee-shirt proclaimed the existence of another "movement" whose membership was actually limited to Larry himself, he could hardly be expelled from that.

Despite everything, Larry continues to seek to present himself, through the internet, as some kind of freedom fighter, and it is possible that some folk who don't know any better, particularly folk in other countries, might be taken in by this pretence. That is why it was worth quoting the 'Courier' report that he pleaded GUILTY to racially aggravated harrassment, and gave as one of his confused excuses for this behaviour (lasting several months) that he was drunk at the time.

Holebender

Our justice minister very recently told us that being drunk could never be considered a valid excuse for offending behaviour.

carol

Dave Coull

Carol, who was extremely reluctant about expelling Lawrence Morton from Independence First, wrote about me putting the 'Courier' report on this forum "if anything something like this could aggravate the situation" - which reminds me a bit of Han Solo's advice regarding a chess game in Star Wars, "let the Wookie win, or he'll break your arm". No, I'm afraid this could go on forever UNLESS it is widely exposed.

Ethan K. McCarthy advised Carol "I suggest you allow Dave to exercise his right to free speech. It is not for you or anyone else to attempt internet censorship."

Carol replies "my sensitivity is towards the victim" - Carol, I would be more inclined to believe that if it were not for the fact that you have a long record of opposing free speech in loads of different circumstances. For instance, when you proposed closing down the Independence First members' forum, that had absolutely nothing at all to do with this particular case. And yes, as well as wanting that particular members' forum closed down, you have frequently sought to limit free speech on the internet more generally, this being just the latest example.

carol

As usual you twist the facts Dave

Note a definite fact, the victim a friend of mine and a supposed friend of yours would like this matter to rest

I respect her wishes

Bye

Aventinian

Dave Coull

Aventinian wrote "Freedom? I remind you I am the most extreme liberal on this forum".

If by that you mean that you are by far the most "respectful and accepting of behaviour or opinions different from one's own: open to new ideas", I'm not so sure this is an established fact of which we merely need "reminding". If you mean that you are by far the most "favourable to individual rights and freedoms", again, I remain unconvinced.

Aventinian

Holebender

Whether or not you are a political liberal, there are no grounds for declaring yourself the most liberal person here. Frankly, I find your attitude towards Scotland's political status among the most illiberal expressed here. Indeed, you express support for individual freedoms which your views on the body politic render impossible; how can the individual be free in an imprisoned society?

Dave Coull

Aventinian wrote "I remind you I am the most extreme liberal on this forum".

I responded "If by that you mean that you are by far the most 'respectful and accepting of behaviour or opinions different from one's own: open to new ideas', I'm not so sure this is an established fact of which we merely need 'reminding'. If you mean that you are by far the most 'favourable to individual rights and freedoms', again, I remain unconvinced."

Holebender advises Aventinian "there are no grounds for declaring yourself the most liberal person here" - there are certainly no grounds for stating it as an established fact requiring no proof but merely a reminder.

Aventinian comes back with "who on this forum is more liberal than me? Feel free to produce some examples" - but I'm not the one making exaggerated claims about being "the most extreme liberal", YOU are. However, if you insist, I can give examples of why your claim is far from being proved. For instance, let's just take one example of freedom of the individual - freedom of movement. On this, I take what most people would consider an extreme liberal position. I have always been in favour of total freedom of movement. World wide. For everybody. No passports. No border gaurds. No restrictions on movement. Can you say the same?

Dave Coull

Holebender wrote "Our justice minister very recently told us that being drunk could never be considered a valid excuse for offending behaviour". - Well, it may not be an excuse, but it in some cases it is certainly an explanation. Here in Scotland we do, as a society, have a tendency to play down the problems caused by this dangerous drug. I will confess that, many years ago, I myself, on quite a few occasions, used the fact of being drunk as an explanation for bad behaviour. Also, a good friend of mine served seven years in jail for attempted murder. He told me that when the police came for him, in the morning, not only was he extremely hung over, but he quite literally had no idea what they were arresting him for - he thought it might be breach of the peace or something like that, as he had only the vaguest recollection of some sort of disagreement with somebody-or-other the night before. So while drink is no excuse, our society's toleration of excessive drinking is certainly a problem.

Having said that, and having acknowledged that drink can certainly be an explanation of particular offences, to attempt to excuse a campaign of harrassment lasting several months by saying "I was drunk" is ridiculous. Even though Larry may have been drunk on particular occasions during that period of several months, there had to be more to it than that for it to last several months. There is also the fact that, even AFTER pleading "guilty" to racially aggravated harrassment of a woman, Larry has continued to seek to justify this behaviour and to present himself, through the internet, as some sort of "freedom fighter", to anybody in Scotland who is prepared to fall for the pretence, as well as to "friends" in Ireland or the USA etc. This continued denial of reality is what made it necessary to ensure the 'Courier' report of this case got a wider circulation.

mairead

I don't see this being discussed on an open forum to be any more damaging than other subjects which have become public debate in recent months and which did a lot of damage, and I agree with Ethan McCarthy that Dave Coull has a right to his own opinions and a right to express them on forums.
I believe we live in a country in which free speech is the norm.

Babygael

It is good to be free, but true freedom is about having choices and being free to exercise them......prudently.

Aventinian

Aventinian

Dave Coull

Aventinian asserted (again) "I am the most liberal person here - liberalism is about individual rights".

I notice you still haven't answered the question which I put to you about individual rights.

"let's just take one example of freedom of the individual - freedom of movement. On this, I take what most people would consider an extreme liberal position. I have always been in favour of total freedom of movement. World wide. For everybody. No passports. No border gaurds. No restrictions on movement. Can you say the same?"