Teen 'didn't care' if Irish slur was racist

John Martin Fulton • Published 27 Jan 2010 10:50

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A TEENAGE girl launched a tirade of racist abuse at a policeman - then told officers she didn't care if she was racist.

Drunk Shirelle Smith, 16, had been asked to leave a house in Irvine she had been visiting with her big sister, but took exception when police arrived to get her out.

And she became particularly aggressive towards PC Lee Barrett as she was being taken out of the house in East Broomlands.

Procurator Fiscal Yolande Love told Kilmarnock Sheriff Court that Smith began by shouting "f*** you, you Irish b******", repeating the phrase again along with "f*** you, you black b******".

She was also reported to have told police: "I don't give a f*** if I'm racist."

Police had earlier been called at around 1.55am.

Ms Love told the court: "Police arrived but couldn't get entry. However, they heard voices raised in side."

The householder did eventually open the door and asked the officers to remove

Smith and others from the house.

Smith, who was drunk, then became aggressive as she was told to leave. And she also struggled with officers as they took her into Saltcoats Police Office.

The teen's laywer Alan Kerr told the court that Smith's sister had bought her drink and that she "should have known better".

"She was in a befuddled state and has no recollection of what happened."

He added that the youngster was hoping to get into full-time work.

Sheriff Alastair Watson did accept that the phrase "black b******" was in this occasion not racist, instead being "Ayrshire slang".

But he added: "This is a very serious matter indeed, but you are only 16. To get into this sort of bother is most unfortunate.

"You also seem to be attempting to make a go of life."

He deferred sentence for six months for good behaviour telling Smith to prove that the incident was a "one off".

This article appeared in Irvine Times 27 Jan 10

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