‘I’ve fought racism all my life’: Desperate plea of St Andrews student who defiled Israeli flag

I only have two words for this guy. Hoist, and petard.

From The Daily Mail: 

By Chris Slack

Last updated at 1:20 PM on 24th August 2011

 
Paul Donnachie was found to have acted in a racially aggravated manner when he defiled an Israeli flag in a supposed political protestPaul Donnachie was found to have acted in a racially aggravated manner when he defiled an Israeli flag in a supposed political protest

A judge has ruled that a St Andrews University student who defiled an Israeli flag in a supposed political protest was acting in a racially aggravated manner.

Paul Donnachie, 19, put his hands down his trousers and touched the flag belonging to Jewish exchange student Chanan Reitblat in what he claimed was a ‘political statement’.

Donnachie’s co-accused Samuel Colchester, 20, was found not proven by Sheriff Charles Macnair following a two-day trial at Cupar Sheriff Court.

Donnachie, who will lose his place at St Andrews with immediate effect, said he was ‘devastated’ by the decision.

He said he would appeal the conviction and added: ‘I’m depressed. I have fought racism all my life.’

During his evidence, Donnachie had insisted that he had not meant to cause offence and said he found racism ‘abhorrent’.

And he strongly denied calling Mr Reitblat a terrorist.

But the sheriff, who was booed loudly by pro-Palestine supporters, upheld the complaints, telling Donnachie: ‘I consider this to have been an act of malice against Mr Reitblat for his membership of Israel.’

The judge had earlier refused defence solicitor Patrick Campbell to allow evidence from academic experts on whether the actions of Donnachie constituted an attack on the Israeli state as opposed to racism.

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.’

Defiled: Donnachie was alleged to have put his hands down his trousers before touching the Israeli flag that belong to Jewish student Chanan ReitblatDefiled: Donnachie was alleged to have put his hands down his trousers before touching the Israeli flag that belong to Jewish student Chanan Reitblat

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

In earlier evidence, Mr Reitblat told how he felt he had no option bit to ‘get out of St Andrews’ following the alleged incident.

Under examination from fiscal depute Brian Robertson, he spoke of how he felt ‘violated’ by the actions of his peers.

He added that Facebook comments made by Donnachie in the wake of the disturbance prompted him to flee to Glasgow as they made reference to Palestinian organisations linked to terrorist atrocities.

He said: ‘I did not know who Paul’s friends were, or who they knew.’

Thrown out: Donnachie has been asked to leave St Andrews University with immediate effectThrown out: Donnachie has been asked to leave St Andrews University with immediate effect

Today’s verdict comes after an Edinburgh sheriff ruled criticism of Israel was not racist after members of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign disrupted a performance of the Jerusalem String Quartet in the capital.

Sheriff James Scott threw out charges which suggested the conduct was racially aggravated, saying that a conviction would render human rights legislation worthless.

Mick Napier, one of the accused in that case and chair of the Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, said yesterday’s decision was ‘scandalous.’

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

11 Replies to “‘I’ve fought racism all my life’: Desperate plea of St Andrews student who defiled Israeli flag”

  1. ‘I’m depressed. I have fought racism all my life.’

    I’m sure he meant “I have fought for racism all my life.” That’s the main cause any islamophile fights for.

  2. What a brave young lad he really is and clever too into the bargain. Fighting racism all his life by putting his hands down his trousers touching up the Israeli flag by way of protest. Obviously; third level education nowadays attracts all sorts and sizes.

  3. I have always found the racists of the world claim to be fighting racism.

    Having said that this brat needs to be taken out behind the barn and given some good old fashion discipline, after all pain is a good teacher.

  4. oldguy:

    For the record, I don’t think he should be charged with anything other than vandalism. He should be made to pay for the dry cleaning of the flag and a fine, the same as if he did what he did to someone’s car or whatever.

    I find it satisfying that the kind of people who champion hate speech laws and that kind of illiberal nonsense get occasionally hoisted on their own petards, but the fact is, hate crimes, thought crimes, feeling crimes simply should not exist at all, period.

  5. I am with you Eeyore, they are all thought control laws and should never have been passed.

  6. Anyone else think he looks like the illegitimate son of Alfred E. Neuman from mad magazine?

  7. Don’t insult Alfred E. Neuman that way, he is much smarter then this fool and his kids legitimate or not would be too.

  8. He is godsend to the artistic community. Well spotted. But Alfred E Neuman is not too be compared with this guy.