THE S*N TRAWL NEW DEPTHS WITH LATEST JOHN HARTSON CELTIC HIT PIECE
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Apr 18
- 2 min read
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Do not buy The S*n newspaper.
They are gutter trash of the very worst kind.
Their latest attempt to link a Celtic legend with a violent crime committed by a family member is nothing short of despicable.
Criminal Case Has Nothing to Do with John Hartson or Celtic
As with most of the virulent filth that is spewed forth from the pages of The S*n, there is a real story in there somewhere.
However, the editorial decisions made in how the story is presented, particularly with the accompanying photos is absolutely disgusting.
Basically, John Hartson’s 22-year-old son, who has a history of severe mental health issues, was jailed for assaulting a fellow patient at a hospital where he was receiving treatment.
The victim was a 67 year old retired woman.
By all accounts it was a particularly brutal crime, and if the account given in court is correct, I have little sympathy for the perpetrator, regardless of who his father is.
However, I do have sympathy for his father, who, it seems, has done all he can to help his son.
There are only two pictures featuring the convicted felon in this case in the entirety of the article covering the story on The S*n’s website.
There are, however, 5 pictures of John Hartson, who apart from being the father of this very troubled young individual, has no connection to the story whatsoever.
Also, despite Hartson’s extensive and decorated career as a player in England prior to joining Celtic, The S*n chose only to feature pictures of him playing for Celtic.
This is no coincidence, and the innuendo here is clear for all to see.
Subtlety never was The S*n’s strong point.
It’s also kind of convenient that on the day Rangers get knocked out of Europe, ensuring yet another trophyless season, they have a negative story linked to Celtic ready to go.
Other sites, such as the BBC have also run the story, but they did so in a neutral, dignified way.
Beyond the familial connection, John Hartson and Celtic are barely mentioned and he isn’t pictured, only his son, who was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, is shown.
The BBC, rightly, chose to focus on the victim, not the attacker’s famous dad.
This is how it should be.
I criticize The BBC for a lot, and its usually justified, but in this case, their reporting was spot on. Nothing sensationalist, just the facts of the case.
The S*n chose to weaponize a brutal attack on a pensioner in order to take a cheap shot at a former Celtic player and, by implication, Celtic themselves.
It’s sadly ironic than in the week we remember the Hillsborough Disaster, The S*n provided us with yet another reason not to buy their paper or frequent any of their affiliated websites.
Don’t buy The S*n.
