LEEANN DEMPSTER has commended Marvin Bartley for his response to the vile racist abuse he was subjected to at Tynecastle.
And the Hibs chief executive has praised the swift response of Hearts officials and supporters in identifying the alleged perpetrator.
Footage of Bartley being subjected to a volley of disgusting vitriol emerged on social media in the aftermath of the capital club’s 2-1 win in Gorgie on Saturday.
It is understood a number of right-minded Jambos utilised the club’s confidential unacceptable conduct text line to inform the authorities of the incident, ensuring he would be quickly identified. The person in the video was subsequently arrested.
“When I saw the incident on Monday, I was very shocked by it,” Dempster said. “Every incident of that nature is shocking, but that was particularly graphic and in terms of the audio. To see that on film was really awful.
“It was a great credit to the people at Hearts – and the supporters of Hearts – who ensured the individual concerned was dealt with.”
Bartley showed remarkable poise in reacting to the abuse, despite Dempster confirming that the midfielder was affected by the incident.
He took to Twitter to call for an end to racist abuse following several incidents north and south of the border this campaign, including Hearts defender Clevid Dikamona being targeted in the previous Edinburgh derby.
Bartley wrote: “I understand that a young man recorded me warming up and sent the video out to his friends with the caption black ‘c***’.
“At first the sound had been removed but having now obtained and viewed the video in full, I am shocked that he can also be heard repeatedly calling me a n****r.
“One thing I refuse to accept is racial abuse. So maybe it is time to take action against these small-minded, ignorant people. Let’s not let it creep back into OUR game!”
Dempster: “It was incredibly difficult for Marvin to see and hear and I felt he dealt with it really well, as did the people at Hearts.”
