News Articles
22nd April 2009
Mum fined for homophobic abuse of her son
(Source: Pinknews.co.uk)
Celia Duncan, 42 from Aberdeen has been fined £250 for shouting homophobic abuse
at her 16 year old son, Stuart O'Neill.
Duncan has admitted breaching the peace by screaming expletives and allegedly calling
O'Neill and his boyfriend "poofs" after she caught the pair holding hands.
Duncan has also admitted to sending her son abusive text messages.
Mr O'Neill told the BBC: "I feel really betrayed by my mum. What she said to me was
vile and hurtful.
"My mum didn't like the fact I was gay.
"She told me to stop being gay or get out of Aberdeen. She basically threw me out of
the house."
Cecilia Dyckhoff, prosecuting told the court: "The complainer was walking with his friend
on Back Hilton Road when he saw Miss Duncan's car going past, brake suddenly, turn round
and stop.
"He knew it was her car and started to run away. He and his friend climbed a wall and ran
through a wood and the accused chased him shouting at them, making homophobic remarks."
The court was told she left a voicemail saying: "I will get you, believe me, and you will get
your head kicked in."
This was followed by a text message that said "I will get you and your poof."
The defendant’s lawyer, Les Green tried to justify his client’s actions by saying that she had
acted out in frustration because her son had disappeared and lost contact with the family and
they had grown concerned.
Mr Green told the court that the Duncans had once been a "very close family" and that she
was extremely upset when her son refused to speak to her.
Mr Green said: "He went out without telling anyone where he was going and never returned
to the family home when he was 16.
"Then, effectively, he came out. Having left he made no contact with his mother which was
very upsetting for her not knowing where he had gone.
"When she saw him on the street she tried to engage him in conversation and he ignored her
and ran away. She ran after him and in exasperation made some remarks."
Mr Green added: "She accepts what she did was hurtful, but it was designed to try to get some
communication with him."
