A DISGRACED former Greenock cricket official who shouted a vile racist slur at ex-Scotland player Majid Haq insists he 'wholeheartedly regrets' his disgusting verbal abuse - despite a disciplinary hearing finding that he showed 'no remorse'.  

Lifelong cricket fan Ronald McGregor was in the dock of the sheriff court yesterday to be sentenced for calling Mr Haq - who was umpiring a Greenock home match - a 'cheating P**i'.

McGregor, 64, who was the official scorer during the match against Stenhousemuir in August, later told Mr Haq that he had used a 'factual term'.

The court was told that first offender McGregor, of West Blackhall Street, has 'never been in trouble before' and has already suffered the consequences of using the vile insult.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher said: "He regrets it wholeheartedly.

"It is a monumental aberration on his part.

READ MORE: Lifetime ban for Greenock racist who abused cricket umpire Majid Haq

"He has been involved with Cricket Scotland for over 50 years; it is his passion.

"He will have no further involvement in cricket.

"He fully regrets that he has made this remark.

"It is out of character."

McGregor was banned from the sport for life by Cricket Scotland last month and an investigation report published by the governing body noted that he had 'refused to engage in the disciplinary process'.

A statement added that he 'exhibited no remorse or culpability' and Cricket Scotland earlier branded racist incidents like the one at Greenock Cricket Club on August 12 as an 'ugly stain on our sport'.

READ MORE: 'Ugly stain on our sport': Cricket Scotland responds to Greenock racism conviction

Sheriff Neil Kinnear told McGregor: "You come before this court as a 64-year-old man with no previous convictions, you have never been in trouble before.

"I accept this seems to have been a one-off incident.

"I accept that you have been a lifelong cricket fan and it is as a result of this incident that that has come to an end and you have lost the ability to attend cricket matches, which have been your passion for a number of years.

“At this cricket match you made a racial slur in relation to the umpire of a type which is completely unacceptable.

“You are no doubt aware of the public outrage that such comments cause."

READ MORE: Racist claimed he 'used factual term' after abusing Greenock cricket umpire

The sheriff added: "Racist comments are not acceptable to society today, and never really have been.

"It appears from the [criminal justice social work] report that you immediately realised that what you said was wrong.

"An apology by letter might be a commendable thing to do."

McGregor was fined £400, plus a £20 victim surcharge, reduced from £600 due to his early guilty plea. He will pay the sum at a rate of £10 per week.