UK- Man, 79, Guilty Of Racial Abuse

UK – Some orthodox Jews on holiday at Walcott Beach in north Norfolk were racially abused by a pensioner who hurled insults at them and spat in their direction, magistrates decided.

William Galbraith, 79, was found guilty of racial aggravation and was given only a 12-month conditional discharge, and ordered him to pay costs of £150, because of his previous good character.

He was accused of throwing stones to encourage his dog to run close to the 14-stong Jewish group, scaring the children, and spitting at them, calling them “you people” and saying “go home [swear word] Jews”, Jew lies.

But Alan Wheetman, defending him, said Galbraith had been using the language of his generation when he described the group as Jews and was being punished because he was not in step with today’s terminology. “We live in an increasingly politically correct society and we have to be extremely careful not to cause offence because it can get us into trouble,” he told the court.

“Our children learn the careful consideration of using words but Mr Galbraith was brought up in a different time. “He adopted the word usage of the day. In Mr Galbraith’s day it would have been quite common this language. And he said Galbraith’s reference to the accusations against him as “Jew lies” did not mean he thought all Jewish people were liars.

But Fergus Harold, prosecuting, said: “What may have been acceptable 60 years ago was not acceptable now.