Yet another disturbing story from the UK.

A student at St Andrews University has been found guilty of a racist breach of the peace after he insulted the flag of Israel.

Paul Donnachie, 19, put his hands down his trousers then rubbed them on a flag belonging to Jewish student Chanan Reitblat.

Donnachie also accused Mr Reitblat of being a terrorist during the incident at the halls of residence in March.

The case against his co-accused Samuel Colchester, 20, was found not proven.

Donnachie has been expelled from St Andrews and Mr Colchester has been suspended for one year.

Cupar Sheriff Court had earlier heard evidence from Mr Reitblat, a chemistry student on a one-term exchange from the Jewish Yeshiva University in New York, who said he felt “violated and devastated” by the incident.

The court heard that Donnachie and Mr Colchester entered the halls at 01:30 on 12 March to see another student who shared the flat.

Lithuanian-born Mr Reitblat said he had the 4ft by 3ft (1.2m by 0.9m) flag on the wall after being given it by his brother, an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier.

He said Donnachie noticed the flag, and said Israel was a terrorist state and the flag was a terrorist symbol.

He then unbuttoned his trousers, put his hands down his pants, pulled off a pubic hair and rubbed it over the flag.

Mr Reitblat said he then threw the pair out.

Sheriff Charlie Macnair told Donnachie, a history student and member of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, that he was satisfied he had behaved the way he had towards the Jewish student because Mr Reitblat was a citizen of the State of Israel.

He said: “This flag was his personal property. I consider that your behaviour did evince malice towards Mr Reitblat because of his presumed membership of Israel.

“I’m satisfied that you said Israel was a terrorist state and the flag was a terrorist symbol and I also hold that you said that Mr Reitblat was a terrorist.”

Sentence on Donnachie was deferred for background reports.

Members of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who packed the public benches in the courtroom, booed, tutted and shouted “scandalous” as the sheriff rose to leave.

Outside the court, a tearful Donnachie said he would appeal.

He said: “This is a ridiculous conviction. I’m a member of anti-racism campaigns, and I am devastated that as someone who was fought against racism I have been tarnished in this way.”

Mr Reitblat, who was also booed as he left the court, said he “welcomed” the conviction.

St Andrew University conducted its own investigation into the incident back in June but reserved its findings to avoid prejudicing the court proceedings.

A spokesman for the university said it had a long tradition of tolerance, respect and the right to freedom of expression, but was also a community which “abhors racial intolerance”.

He added: “Mr Donnachie was informed this afternoon that his studies at St Andrews have been terminated and he will leave the university with immediate effect.

“Mr Colchester has been informed that he has been suspended for one year and excluded from university halls of residence. Any further misconduct on his part will lead to automatic termination of studies.”

Donnachie complains about being tarnished, yet has no problem tarnishing the flag of another student with his pubic hair. Sick.

Update: From another report of the verdict:

Due to be called was Jewish politics lecturer Sarah Glynn who was close to tears as she left court and told Reitblat’s family their actions were ‘scandalous.’

She said: ‘As Jews you should be ashamed. This is devastating.’

Update: How’s this for a weird coincidence? Chanan Reitblat is a dead ringer for deceased Iraq war hero by the name of – wait for it – Paul Donnachie.

Update: Join in on the fun: Justice For Paul Donnachie Facebook Page

31 thoughts on “Not So Great Scot!”

  1. Actually, considering the actions of the judge and university administration, there still seem to be a fair number of great Scots.

        1. Why? Earthquakes are not unknown on the east coust (Israel too); they just aren't common. These theories tend to forget history.

          And BTW, the Washington Monument is built in soft earth.

          1. So here’s one movie (more accurately, trilogy of movies) I know z303 didn’t see.

            Back To The Future, of course—my all-time favorite. But forget about me; I sure hope you’ve seen Star Wars, or you’ll have the wrath of Aussie Dave to contend with. 😉

          2. I didn’t know it was a deliberate homage to BTTF, Dave—after all, a lot of people use the exclamation “Great Scott!” without thinking of Doc ??? Brown. I’m flattered!

            z303,

            The “gravitational pull” bit is in the first BTTF. Marty uses the slang word “heavy,” but the 1955 Doc Brown can’t understand a usage that dates from the 1960s, so he interprets it literally. The second time Marty uses the word, Doc says, “There’s that word again, ‘Heavy.’ Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the Earth’s gravitational pull?”

            1. Sorry. I thought you were serious, because there are weird conspiracy theories flying out there, believe it or not. I am not, in general, a fan of such things, except for things that are blatant and admitted.

  2. >> Outside the court, a tearful Donnachie said he would appeal.

    He doesn't come across as appealing. Boom, boom!

  3. I'm the product of a number of different clans hailing from the British Isles and Ireland, so I'm bound to have at least a wee bit of Scots blood in me. But don't you just hate the sound of a Scotsman trying to speak English? Like nails on a chalkboard.

      1. A little known clause of the Paris treaty was that custody of the English language was given over to the United States.

        🙂

  4. Paul Donnachie certainly crossed the line. He shouldn't have done what he did. It matters not one jot that Chanan Reitblat is a snivelling cowardly character, a big girls blouse who sought refuge in his mothers skirts. It matters not that he doesn't have any backbone and that there is more courage in his brother's little finger than he has in his whole body. Regardless of the fact that he wasn't man enough to sort this drunk out on his own, and that he behaved hysterically, almost as though he'd been raped…. this sad, pathetic exuse for a human being deserves the protection of the law.

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