Republican group gets green light for march

A Republican group banned from marching in Rutherglen earlier this month will parade nine miles away on Saturday, August 27.

South Lanarkshire Council issued a banning order to Irish Republican Bands Scotland (IRBS) after police said a Rutherglen parade could pose a risk to public safety.

But last Wednesday, August 18, North Lanarkshire councillors agreed there were no legal grounds to refuse IRBS’protest about anti-Irish racism in Bellshill.

It will see around 30 marchers follow the Coatbridge United Irishmen Flute Band.

Regimental Blues, a Scots loyalist organisation, which objected to the march says it will hold a counter demonstration.

Police Scotland did not submit a formal objection to the march but did say the risk to public safety was “high.”

The Lanarkshire force said it had the necessary resources to police the parade effectively.

It was fears for public safety that saw an earlier application for a parade in Rutherglen and Castlemilk thrown out by Glasgow City and South Lanarkshire councils.

Objecting to the August 6 planned parade, Greater Glasgow Police said: “In September 2014, there was a sizeable counter-demonstration in the Castlemilk area by individuals who attended near to the route armed with weapons and caused difficulty with the containment strategy deployed.

“Several arrests were made and disturbances continued in both the Castlemilk and Rutherglen area throughout the day.”

Glasgow City Council’s public processions committee voted to grant permission for the march on Saturday, September 3, but IRBS said the date was non-negotiable.