John Reid has warned Alex Salmond that the not proven verdict in the Neil Lennon trial could cripple plans to bring in tough new anti-sectarian legislation.
Last week’s not proven verdict on John Wilson after he admitted striking the Celtic manager has caused consternation in legal circles with Peter Lawwell admitting that the verdict has left Lennon shaken.
The Scottish parliament is attempting to put in place new legislation to clamp down on sectarian and offensive behaviour but Reid has written to Salmond to highlight the difficulties following last week’s Edinburgh verdict.
According to the Sunday Mail Reid wrote to Salmond saying: “I am sure that you are well aware of the public consternation that the verdict has aroused.
“You may also know from our public statement that we at Celtic found the outcome incomprehensible.
“I am equally aware, as you may be, of the wider implications of such a verdict, especially in the context of the present discussions regarding further legislation on sectarianism and offensive behaviour. In this light, these wider implications of this verdict cannot be other than seriously damaging.
“There is a widely held view that present laws should be robustly applied before new legislation is introduced. The events of the past few days cannot do anything other than encourage that view.”
A spokesman for Salmond said last night: “The First Minister has received the letter from Celtic and will be replying to the club in due course.”
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I wonder whether assault will be covered in the new legislation, its clearly not covered by current laws.