Indyref march organiser who defied safety fears is jailed

Man was charged day after event in city

ASCOTS indyref march organiser who defied Glasgow City Council safety concerns and refused to change the start time of the event was jailed for 72 days.

Mandeep Singh, 41, of All Under One Banner, also failed to apply to have streets closed during the event. This had to be organised by Police Scotland.

He was told on several occasions that starting the march from Kelvingrove Park to Glasgow Green last May at 1.30pm would cause congestion in the city centre.

Council officials ordered the even to start at 11am, but Singh started the rally at 1.30am to accommodate marchers travelling from all over Scotland.

The day after the march he was charged.

Singh pleaded guilty at Glasgow

Sheriff Court to holding a procession not in accordance with the council-imposed conditions.

Sheriff Paul Brown ordered Singh, of the city’s Charing Cross, to be placed on a 72-day curfew from 6pm to 6am.

But, Singh refused to comply with this and was sent to prison.

The court heard that on the lead up to the march there was a meeting on March 5, last year, with council officials, police and the fire brigade.

Singh estimated that between 20,000 and 100,000 people would attend the event.

Council officials told Singh his route and start time of 1.30pm would cause congestion in the city centre and recommended an 11am start time.

Prosecutor John Bedford said: “Singh refused the recommendation put forward and stated he would perhaps bring it to 1pm.