I really don’t care if journalists stick a microphone in Dermot Desmond’s face and ask him questions about tax, Dermot is big and bad enough to look after himself, the letter he issued to BBC’s Mark Daly confirms as much. What troubles me is the inordinate double standards employed by the Scottish media.
Graeme Souness and Walter Smith were recipients of an aggressive tax avoidance scheme, funded by Rangers before their liquidation, while employed as managers of clubs in England. Why are they not subjected to the microphone treatment when they walk into football stadiums, as they do every week?
Unlike anything Dermot has been asked about (no one disputes the legality of Dermot’s arrangement), the Rangers scheme was found in court to be in contravention of tax law.
Why Souness and Smith were in receipt of money from Rangers, while they were employed elsewhere, is a question studiously avoided by their many friends in the media. It is not just these two. More than 50 Rangers players received payments through the same mechanism, all struck down in court. Not a week goes by without some of these former players or managers making media appearances, several sit down with the very people who deemed want to talk about Dermot Desmond this week. None are called to account for their struck-down tax arrangements in the way Dermot was for his (legal) arrangements.
I feel we are in the territory of SNP’s Christine Grahame here. Celtic do nothing wrong so change the frame of reference to allow you to tangentially include Celtic. Then screaming “Celtic” and “tax” all over the front page for an issue that involves one of our shareholders, but has nothing to do with the club. It is sloppy, but unlike Ms Grahame’s intervention, no innocents will be locked up this time.
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I don’t post much, a handful of posts a year, lurk most days, today has opened my eyes a wee bit wider, Ernie Lynch has shown us he is in fact a journo, or has very close links to one, his defence of the BBC is admirable, if not misplaced, had the BBC wanted a Scottish link they would have far, far better punters than Dermot to hassle, you carry on defending your journo pals Ernie, you may fool many on here with your witty repertoire, but you will never fool this old Honest Tim.
Dallas,
Just in from a day grand-wean sitting and reading back I saw your terrible news. Sincere condolences mate and thoughts and prayers for you, your family and your/dad’s friends. Three year old lassie to me today: “Gramps, when will you die?” After cleaning up the coffee spill I merely replied “I haven’t decided yet”. Life is so simple for kids, not so easy for us adults.
Take care.
DALLAS DALLAS
Condolences from way down south . There will be a big hole in your life -fill it with memories of the man . .
My Dad will be 98 soon . Went to his first Celtic game in 1934. He had none of the qualifications for that Celtic minded thing .He chose Celtic because they were the team nearest his digs and he’d been told that they were the team for immigrants .His favourite players are Wullie Fernie ., George Connelly, Bobby Murdoch and Lubo Moravcik.. There was a photo of Wullie Fernie on the wall of our late 50s room n kitchen in Woodlands .Next to photos of Art Tatum, Rosa Luxemburg and Just Fontaine .
Take care !
DALLAS DALLAS: Very sad news re your Dad. Had you been there in the times of your father you too would think the nineties were a walk in the park. We had great individual players but seldom a successful team.
May he rest in peace.
DALLAS DALLAS WHERE THE HECK IS DALLASon 7TH NOVEMBER 2017 7:13 PM
Sorry to hear your news. My own dad’s favourite was Malky McDonald – he used to wax lyrical about him so good to hear they shared the same taste.
Surprised and that DD reacted like this – the reptiles in Scotland love it when they feel like they’ve brought someone like him down to their level. And the Huns with their wizards and magik deep down have a huge respect for someone who kicks their arses like he has theirs
Still, he’s entitled to a bit of self-indulgence.
From viewing tonight’s Paradise Papers( geddit?) it would appear that the bold Mr Daly has been on a six month jolly to some nice parts of the world, no doubt paid for by British tv license payers.
At the end of all that time and effort the most note worthy morsel he can come up with is DD perhaps using an IOM company to avoid paying Swiss taxes. I’m sure the Swiss broadcasters will be paying huge amounts for that scoop!
Meanwhile back in dear old Blighty, Minty has now been found by the Supreme Court to have personally avoided £6 million in his own EBT and have operated not one but two illegal tax scams.
He has now reappeared on the Sunday Times Rich List, no doubt he will be next to be “doorstepped” by the intrepid Mr Daly!
HH
EMERALDBEE
The Mrs is just back from scotland and was telling me about our youngest grandson, on the bus an old woman with white hair, he kept staring at her, he is seven so not that young, but he says what is in his head, the Mrs knew he was going to say something so tried in vain to distract him, eventually he tapped her on the shoulder and asked her if she was dead, the Mrs was mortified but the old wan understood fine well what weans are like, he meant no harm :-)
HH
Dallas Dallas, Sincere Condolences on your sad loss. May Your Dad Rest in Peace.k
DALLASDALLAS
So sorry to hear of your loss , take care
THEEXILEDTIM
Just mailed you,mate.
Hope yer both smashin’!
Dallas Dallas, condolences on the sad loss of your father. As you mentioned, the memories last forever. Take care. YNWA
Incredible faux outrage from an organisation that knowingly and purposefully employs tax evaders on a weekly basis.
THE EXILED TIM on 7TH NOVEMBER 2017 8:54 PM
My eldest, most sensitive, child went through what we call his “chocolate face” period which involved pointing and shouting. I also had to change our walk route to school when he whispered too loudly about the lady with dwarfism as she passed once too often
BobbyM
Replied
HH
Pog, brilliant, lol.
CELTIC40ME
The innocence of weans is wonderful, it’s a crying shame how us adults corrupt them.
One of the first times I noticed their pure innocence was when my young fella was about three, we were watching a footy game at the local park and there was a black fella playing, it was a kids game, anyways, when asked about the black fella my wean referred to the colour of his shorts as they were different than his team mates, never a thought about his skin colour, as adults we have a lot to answer for.
HH
Emeraldbee
At my 50th birthday dinner, my 4 year old granddaughter declared that I was really old and asked what age I would die. My response among the laughter of my family and friends was, “Only God knows that answer darling.”
THE EXILED TIM on 7TH NOVEMBER 2017 9:15 PM
Very true. We should all try and see the world through a five-year-old’s eyes
dallas dallas – I’ll be praying for you and your family now and in the coming months
Dallas, may your father rest in peace.
TET
No child is born racist. It is learned behaviour from adults sadly.
DALLAS DALLAS
So sorry for your loss mate
Rest in peace DALLAS SNR
HH
WWW
You are in my prayers and thoughts too.
God bless you and Jacqueline rip.
CELTIC40ME
Aye, weans only see hard facts, black and white in a sense, we see ulterior motives in just about everything, I remember reading about a father and his kid who were away on a fishing trip miles from anywhere, way before mobiles, the kid fell and cut his wrist and the blood was gushing out, the father knew he couldn’t get him to a hospital or get him help, so he took hold of the wean by the wrists and told him to make the bleeding stop, it worked, the bleeding stopped, concrete thought which obviously works but gets lost the older kids get, it’s a true story btw.
HH
DallasDallas: Heartfelt sympathy to you on the sad passing of your father. My dad died twenty five years ago and his birthday was last Sunday. I still miss him.
Ar dheis lámh Dhé go raibh a anam uasal.
Delaneys
We have so much to answer for.
HH
…………………………………
Weet Weet Weet
Good to see you on the blog.
HH
OK! Here’s mine…I’m sitting on the bus with my three year old daughter and she’s staring at the guy with the wide brimmed hat in the seat immediately behind us, he’s smiling and making faces at her…I knew something was coming, I just didn’t know exactly what…”Dad…” here it comes…”Why is that man black?” …Arrrgh…”It’s ’cause I’m made of chocolate.” he said…and with that he produced and offered her a piece of the finest milk chocolate which she accepted and, looking at me for the nod of approval, she plonked into her mouth…then in a loud voice and to the amusement of other passengers she said, ” The man tastes really good”…Kids eh?…
Weet Weet Weet…nice to see you back on the blog…hope you’re fine…
Dallas Dallas,
May your father rest in peace.
That Malky MacDonald must have been some player, as I grew up hearing how wonderful he was. That was in the 50s. Come the 60s, my Dad reckoned Bobby Murdoch and Bertie Auld were the best. Then Henrik entered his pantheon. Now, he has a soft spot for Leigh Griffiths.
WBC
That’s brilliant, from the mouth of weans :-)
HH
POGMATHONYAHUN AKA LAIRD OF THE SMILES on 7TH NOVEMBER 2017 7:04 PM
‘What I find distasteful is this slimy excuse for an investigative journalist playing the victim card by publicly releasing DD’s letter.’
####
The letter that states:
‘If you broadcast the video footage taken by your camera crew last night, I request that you broadcast it in full along with the entire contents of this letter.’
Mmmm.
Weet Weet Weet , I would like to offer my condolences to you on your recent loss.
Parkheadcumsalford , according to my dad , Malcolm played in every outfield position.
Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts regarding my dad passing away. It has lifted my spirits .
AULDHEID @ 5:20
Superb, deeply insightful post. Part of me can understand the reasons that Celtic never directly disparage the entity playing out of Govan. These reasons do not apply to the BBC or other media. I am baffled and frustrated why we do not employ an articulate and forceful individual to defend the Club against the constant scurrilous allegations and smear tactics employed by the msm.
I am also musing over the possibility that this attempt to embarrass Mr. Desmond may directly or indirectly influence the Club’s AGM position on Resolution 12?
Time to take the gloves off, Celtic.
IniquitousIV
P.S. Dallas, Dallas, Sincere condolences on the passing of your Dad. It comes to us all, and is no easier, even if anticipated.
Hello again all you young rebels.
BMCUW.
Re- Plumrose, how about Willie Falconer?
DALLAS DALLAS
Sorry for your loss RIP Dallas senior.
H.H Mick
WWW, Nice to see you posting, keep it going.
On this day in 1988 Betty Windsor stripped champion jockey Lester Piggott of his OBE for tax evasion mmmmm HH
Dallas Dallas
Sorry for your loss HH