POLICE CHIEF SLAMS BIGOT SONGS
Call for collective approach to tackling sectarianism
Norman Silvester A police chief slammed sectarian and racist singing yesterday after more than 13,000 Orange Lodge members marched through Glasgow.
About 800 off icers threw a cordon round the centre of the city yesterday to prevent disturbances at a series of processions.
However, Glasgow’s pol ice commander Chief Supt Mark Sutherland strongly criticised the behaviour of some during the marches and said a number of arrests had been made.
He also called for more to be done to combat sectarianism.
He added: “We are awa r e t ha t on a number of occasions today, there have been outbreaks of racist and sectarian singing by some attending to support the Orange Order processions.
“This is utterly unacceptable and we completely condemn this behaviour.
“We have made arrests in connection with various offences and will continue to do so where required.
“Once again, we see a number of people intent in causing offence and stirring up hatred by singing unacceptable sectarian and racist songs. I want to again condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms.
“It is clear sectarianism remains an ongoing problem in Scotland and while policing has an important role in tackling this behaviour, this needs to be addressed i n a col lect ive, collaborative manner.”
An estimated 34 bands took part in the parades, held to mark the 200th anniversary of the Orange Order in the city. A series of protests were also held by Cal l It Out objecting to the marches, which they claim are anti- Catholic and anti-Irish, being routed past Catholic churches.
One group gathered after 8am outside St Benedict’s in Easterhouse and then at 2pm outside Blessed John Dun Scotus church in the city’s Gorbals as the Orange Order members passed by. Pol ice moved to separate marchers and protestors as both events passed off peacefully.
There was also a police presence outside St Alphonsus Church in London Road following a street assault on the parish priest Canon Tom White in July 2018 at the end of one Orange Walk.
Jim McHarg, grandmaster of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, denied the organisation was antiCatholic, adding: “We’re not an organisation that is anti anything.”
Meanwhile, a 68-year-old man died yesterday after collapsing at a march in Kingston Street.