A man who sent an offensive letter to a priest and ranted at his congregation over their “dangerous” parking at Sunday services was yesterday admonished.
Bruce Findlay lost the plot after repeated incidents outside St Pius Church in Dundee’s Balerno Street. In the letter, he used derogatry language towards the congregation, then shouted and swore, calling them a “bunch of hypocrites” before threatening one of them with violence. The 60-year-old said he was “frustrated and angry” when the incident occured on February 23.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told the note said: “How many times do you have to be told, kids are crossing, do something before a kid is killed.”
When Findlay then started calling them a bunch of hypocrites, one of the congregation tried to intervene to calm the situation down only to be met with threats.
Findlay, of Balerno Street, Dundee, admitted a charge of breach of the peace.
He further admitted placing a note in the hands of James Walls, acting in his capacity as the priest, and that he did shout, swear, gesticulate and threaten violence towards the lieges and repeatedly make offensive comments regarding the Catholic faith.
Defence solicitor Ian Houston told the court there was no religious aggravation as Findlay himself is a Catholic. Mr Houston said Findlay had been complaining for some months about parking in Balerno Street. Mr Houston added: “He lost his temper and he has since apologised to the priest.”
Sheriff Tom Hughes admonished and dismissed Findlay.