Did any of us ignore it? Not many. Lots of us excused it to some extent, but not ignored it. Yet again, Rory Smith wildly exaggerates in order to make himself seem really mature and wise and prudent.
Tbh I don't know or care much about Rory Smith, I was just name checking him so as not to imply it was solely my point, but I think most of us were happy to ignore his history when he signed.
And I think the fact he was so fervently supported through his various troubles here and there has been so much wailing about him wanting to leave suggests that, yes, actually, most people did just bury their heads from the truth.
Btw I'm not saying we shouldn't have signed him, just that we (I) were silly to have expected anything better.