Mother fined for gay son taunts

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A mother in Aberdeen who shouted homophobic abuse at her estranged teenage son has been fined.

Celia Duncan, 42, abused 16-year-old Stuart O'Neill when she spotted him holding hands with his boyfriend.

Duncan, who admitted breach of the peace, swore at the pair and called them "poofs", Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard. She was fined £250.

Her son said: "I feel really betrayed by my mum. What she said to me was vile and hurtful."

Duncan also admitted sending threatening phone messages.

Fiscal depute 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.

My mum didn't like the fact I was gay. She told me to stop being gay or get out of Aberdeen Stuart O'Neill

"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."

Ms Dyckhoff said Mr O'Neill's mother later sent him a voicemail saying: "I will get you, believe me, and you will get your head kicked in."

She told the court: "He then got a text message that said 'I will get you and your poof'."

Defence lawyer Les Green said his client, from the Bridge of Don area of Aberdeen, was frustrated because her son had disappeared and lost contact with the family.

He told the court the teenager had seldom gone out without his twin brother so the family had grown concerned when he left home.

'Came out'

He described the Duncans as a "very close family" and said Mrs Duncan had become upset when her son refused to speak to her.

He 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."

The defence lawyer said the "embarrassing" rift had split up the family and his client was struggling to understand why her son no longer spoke to her.

He added: "She accepts what she did was hurtful, but it was designed to try to get some communication with him."

Shop assistant Mr O'Neill said: "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."