Pair admit racially abusing Humza Yousaf in Dundee

Tracie Currie and Carl O'Brien appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court today

Author: Kara ConwayPublished 23rd Aug 2023

Two people have admitted racially abusing Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf and hurling offensive remarks at other SNP politicians.

At Dundee Sheriff Court today, Tracie Currie, 35, and Carl O'Brien, 25, pleaded guilty to racially abusing Mr Yousaf in the city on 25 February.

Court papers detailed how the pair repeatedly made racist remarks about Mr Yousaf and prejudiced comments about religion in the city's Seagate.

Following this, they directed verbal abuse towards local SNP MSP Shona Robison, who is now Deputy First Minister, and MP Chris Law at the party's parliamentary office on Old Glamis Road on the same day.

The court papers said O'Brien also repeatedly phoned the Dundee SNP parliamentary office and made offensive remarks the previous day, on 24 February.

Nominations for the SNP leadership contest closed that day, and Mr Yousaf was one of three candidates.

Currie pleaded not guilty to resisting arrest and struggling outside a police station on Bell Street in Dundee as well as being in possession of cocaine, which the court accepted.

O'Brien denied a further charge of threatening and abusive behaviour, which was accepted by the court.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael continued bail on Currie and O'Brien and they will appear in court again on 3 October.

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