Statement on Mick Napier’s successful appeal 

A bench of Scottish judges has quashed a racial aggravation conviction of SPSC founding member Mick Napier in December 2025 by Sheriff John McCormick. They concluded that Sheriff McCormick had not 'objectively’ or ‘adequately addressed the question of proof of the aggravation’. The Sheriff Appeal Court decision noted that McCormick had ignored defence key evidence: 

“The issue is the motivation of the maker of the comments assessed objectively...There is no question that the appellant demonstrated malice or ill will towards the complainer. That is apparent in the language used; he referred to the complainer as a nasty little creep, as a degenerate, as a low life... 

“However in our judgement the Sheriff has not adequately explained why he rejected significant parts of the appellants evidence, for example the appellant stated that his rage was directed at members of the Glasgow Friends of Israel and at the complainer's support for the Israeli army and the Israeli State... [The evidence] does not, in our view lead to the necessary inference, objectively assessed, that the appellant's malice or ill will was based to any extent on the complainers faith, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins.” 

The judges listed other failures by McCormick that “fortify our view that the sheriff has not adequately addressed the question of proof of the aggravation...

This decision turns on the adequacy of the sheriff's reasoning. For these reasons, we shall grant the appeal and quash the aggravations in relation to both charges.”

During the original trial last year pro-genocide complainer and sole witness, Mr S Stein, committed perjury in insisting during evidence that Glasgow Friends of Israel did not support the Israeli military! A dossier of evidence to the contrary together with eye witness testimonies will be presented to Police Scotland.

Given such judicial criticism of McCormick's indifference to evidence from the defence and his flawed legal reasoning, McCormick might be thought unfit to sit on any bench. 

He was, however, the perfect support for the UK Government attempt to justify its escalating repression of voices opposing UK participation in Israel’s genocide and support for the Gaza concentration camp and killing zone.   

Craig Murray calls McCormick a "rabid Zionist judge whose inflammatory and inaccurate sentencing remarks in the Thales case were relied on by Yvette Cooper in the proscription of Palestine Action and quoted by Lady Chief Justice Carr in finding the proscription lawful." 

Hillsborough cover up, Orgreave frame ups, Derry army massacre of civilians: there have always been state officials covering up the crimes of the British state. Why should Gaza be any different? 

Mick still has a £600 fine for a conviction of breach of the peace for insulting a pro-genocide campaigner. He and other SPSC members continue to face other charges for Palestine solidarity activism, including terrorism charges for opposing the genocide.  

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