A MAN who was fined after teaching a pug to Nazi salute has raised over £80,000 for his appeal.
Mark Meechan shared a video online of a pug he had trained raising his paw in response to repeated statements of "gas the Jews" and "Sieg Heil".
He was fined earlier this month after being convicted of committing a hate-crime.
However, Meechan claimed that he would challenge the verdict and has raised over £80,000 online to do so, aiming to reach £100,000 in total.
He claims no wrongdoing.
On crowdfund appeal says: "This conviction will be used as an example to convict other people over the things they say and the jokes they make, it sets a standard where courts will be able to willfully (sic) ignore the context and intent of a persons words and actions in order to punish them and brand them as criminals.
"This is the amount that has been quoted by my lawyer, the reason it has been quoted so high is my lawyer wishes to bring in top legal representatives to ensure that we have the highest chance of reversing the standard that this case sets, I cannot allow the two years of litigation I went through and having my life put on hold, to happen to anyone else.
"I will be 100% transparent with these funds, all bills in regards to the case will be made publicly available."
Sheriff Derek O'Carroll found Meechan guilty of a charge under the Communications Act. He stated that Meechan posted a video which was "anti-Semitic and racist in nature".
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel