Suspended fine for Galliano over anti-Semitic insults

A PARIS court convicted former Christian Dior designer John Galliano of making anti-Semitic insults in a bar, but gave him only a suspended sentence, taking into account his apology to the victims.

Galliano, who did not attend the announcement of the verdict, was given no prison time. He was given a suspended €6,000 fine, which means it goes on his criminal record but he does not have to pay it.

He was, however, ordered to pay €16,500 in court fees for the complainants — three individuals and five anti-racism associations — plus a symbolic €1 in damages to each one.

The Paris court found him guilty of “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity” stemming from two separate incidents at a Paris bar.

The accusations earlier this year cost Galliano his job at the luxury house and roiled the fashion world.

Galliano said he had been under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs at the time and could not recall the incidents in question.

The judge said the court found Galliano had “sufficient awareness of his act despite his addiction and his fragile state”. But the court also took into account that he apologised to the plaintiffs during the June trial and noted the “values of tolerance” in his work.

His lawyer, Aurelien Hamelle, called it “a really strong sign from the court”.

Asked about Galliano’s plans, he said only that his client is “looking forward to the future” and “will continue to care for himself.”

After 15 critically acclaimed and commercially successful years at Dior, the flamboyant Briton’s brilliant career flamed out after a couple alleged he accosted them while they were having a drink at Paris’ hip La Perle cafe on February 24.

Another woman soon came forward with similar claims about a separate incident in the same cafe.

Days later, a British tabloid posted a video showing a visibly drunk Galliano insulting a fellow cafe client, slurring: “I love Hitler.”

As the video went viral, Dior took swift action against the man it had long treated as an icon, sacking Galliano days before the label’s autumn-winter 2011 runway show in March.

Galliano was later also ousted from his eponymous label, which is also owned by Dior’s parent company.