A JUNIOR paramedic was "too traumatised" to take on another shift after being "spat on" by Rangers fans in George Square, a colleague has said.
Darren, a paramedic, told Radio Clyde News about how he was working on Saturday as Rangers supporters' title celebrations descended into chaos.
READ MORE: Rangers condemn 'small minority' of fans as police probe viral clip
The frontline worker slammed "knuckle draggers" who he said were hurling bigoted slurs at NHS staff.
He said: "It was the first time I had ever been on something of that scale.
▶️ "To be treated like that when in the middle of a global pandemic when we're frontline workers....there's no words we can use for it"
— Radio Clyde News (@RadioClydeNews) May 18, 2021
Darren called @ClydeSSB to describe his experience as a paramedic in George Square on Saturday pic.twitter.com/meV1JgkkFm
"I had a new start with me of four months in the job. She was due to be back out again on Sunday and basically, how traumatised she was, she couldn't commit to the shift.
"We were basically spat on. The sectarian language we endured."
While police enforced a dispersal command to fans later in the night, Darren claimed he was facing attacks from fans "from the moment Rangers fans arrived in George Square, right through to about half-past one in the morning".
READ MORE: Officials 'may never know' if Rangers gatherings were 'superspreader events', warns Jason Leitch
He added: "Even to the degree the colour of our uniform was getting brought up, using the F word to describe – in a religious connotation – what we were.
"These are the types of knuckle-draggers you're having to deal with. To be treated like that, in the middle of a global pandemic, when we're frontline workers, to have to stand and endure that level of abuse, to witness the police having bottles thrown at them, for at least four hours solid, there are just no words you can use for it."
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