From afar, I have watched with dismay, events unfold, in the aftermath of Hibernian FC’s rather special victory at Ibrox.

It’s a rather sorry tale of Mr Neil Lennon, Hibernian’s manager and ‘former Celt’, who was treated to a barrage of racial and bigoted abuse for the entire 90 minutes of on field play.

As a lifelong Hibee, my weekends were absorbed by the ritual that is Scottish Football and I do not recall at anytime feeling guilty for getting caught up in the emotion and tribalism of it all. I recall also, happily signing some rather risqué sectarian songs with my Celtic loving pals, oblivious to the real history, the real meaning and the general distaste that accompanied such togetherness.

Of course, the singing was largely directed at those in our group who were of a Rangers persuasion, and wasn’t intended to be a direct reflection of our values/beliefs in this space. Nonetheless, sectarian singing, even if naively founded, has no place in our society and it is incumbent upon those practicing it to inform themselves fully before embarking on such shameful activity.

Neil Lennon turned up at Ibrox to do a job. The same as the majority of us do Monday to Friday. He has never asked for this abuse, nor does he deserve it. A long standing antagonist of Rangers and their followers, he always took special delight in defeating his closest rivals. For this, he has not only been verbally abused, but physically abused also. Saturday was the least of it.

Yet in the aftermath, there has been a media clamour to ‘balance the books’, and demonstrate fault on both sides. This lazy and ill considered journalism cannot be tolerated by those of us who are advocates of reason.

There is rarely a day goes by when I don’t shudder at the thought of a young me, taking the opportunity presented by the short walk from one pub to the next, belting out those hate filled songs in order to fit in, to generate banter, to have a laugh. Only with maturity does one realise it is no laughing matter and can lead to some very real harm.

Another example of “religion poisoning everything”.

We must snap out of this! Who will join me?