NEVER AGAIN
Council chief blasts the abuse of rights by thugs
The leader of Glasgow City Council yesterday threw the future of religiousbased marches in the city into doubt.
It comes amid revulsion after an Irish Unity march descended into rioting between republicans, loyalists and police on Friday night in Govan.
Susan Aitken accused those involved of “an appalling abuse” of their right to march.
The SNP councillor tweeted: “The law requires Glasgow City Council to facilitate marches. Councillors try very hard to balance public protection and human rights.
“But last night, thugs obsessed with ancient hatreds used our city to stage an appalling abuse of the right to process and protest.
“This can’t happen again.”
Her cal ls were echoed by Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf who said the Government would work with the council to find a solution for the marches.
His spokesman added that the r ight to march came with a responsibility to do so peacefully.
Scottish Greens Govan councillor Allan Young said: “My constituents should be able to go about their business without the threat of violence and intimidation. It’s vital authorities ensure this can’t happen again.”
It is understood the council and police are to meet within days to discuss a powderkeg republican march scheduled for Saturday.
The Cairde Na Heireann – Calton Republican – had been given permission to march through the city centre. But council leaders fear it could descend into more chaos after Friday night’s riot and are looking at re-routing the march.
Govan businesses were yesterday dealing with the aftermath of the trouble. Gee Singh, 33, who works in the Day Today Express store, said: “I’ve never seen anything like it.
“We have electric shutters and when we saw what was happening they came down quickly.”
Ross Taylor, 22, who works in Ladbrokes, said staff barricaded themselves in the betting shop as pitched battles went on outside.
He said: “By 7pm, it was just chaos outside. People were fighting and running about.
“We had to pull down the shutters and the staff were trapped inside until 10pm as the mayhem went on outside.”
The Brechin’s Bar staff locked drinkers in to avoid getting caught up in the chaos. One employee said: “We’ve been lucky there’s been no damage to the pub.”
Police said it had arrested two men aged 21 and 37 after the riots.