Charges dropped for man who ‘shouted homophobic abuse’ at gay council leader
A man who was accused of shouting homophobic abuse at gay Glasgow city council leader Stephen Purcell has had the charges dropped.
Peter Burne allegedly shouted the remarks at Purcell after his child’s primary school was earmarked for closure, the Scotsman reports.
He kept in the cells overnight and subsequently charged with a hate crime. The case was due to be heard next month but has now been dropped by prosecutors.
Burne told the newspaper: “We were at a protest at the City Chambers in April and I saw him coming out in his limousine. I went over and tapped his window and said, ‘Mr Purcell, how can you make such important decisions regarding my family when you practise an alternative lifestyle?’.
“He took that as a homophobic comment, and because I tapped on his window, that was a breach of the peace.”
However, a council source said that Burne’s langauage had been “more colourful”. The source added that Purcell was reluctant to have the case brought to court.
Burne said he was angry about not having the chance to clear his name and accused city officials of trying to gag him.
A Crown Office spokeswoman said the procurator-fiscal concluded further criminal proceedings were not appropriate.
