Orange walk alters route
ANOTHER Orange march due to go past a Catholic church where a priest was attacked is to be re-routed.
Around 1,000 members had been due to march past on August 18 but have changed their plans.
A PROTESTANT organisation is to move a march which was due go past a Glasgow Catholic church where a priest was attacked.
Around 750 to 1,000 members of the Apprentice Boys of Derry (ABOD) were set to march past St Alphonsus Church in the Caltin area of the city on Saturday August 18.
As previously reported by the Evening Times, Police Scotland had appealed to members of an Orange Walk for witnesses to the alleged attack on the priest as the parade passed the church on Saturday, July 7.
Canon Tom White had been speaking to parishioners outside when he was allegedly spat on twice before being lunged at by a man with a baton.
The Archdiocese of Glasgow said both Canon White and his parishioners had been “subjected to vile abuse” and Police Scotland confirmed it was investigating the incident as a hate crime.
However, it has now been confirmed the ABOD will not be passing the church after a meeting with Glasgow City Council and Police Scotland.
Thomas Porteous, chairman of the Scottish Amalgamated Committee at the Apprentice Boys of Derry – which oversees some 2,000 members – said: “Following discussions with Glasgow City Council and Police Scotland, a proposed procession by the Apprentice Boys of Derry on Saturday, August 18 will not take place within the vicinity of St Alphonsus’ Roman Catholic Church where an incident – which did not concern this organisation – is alleged to have taken place last month.”
A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Glasgow told the Evening Times the news was “a great relief” to the priest and people of St Alphonsus
He added: “We are grateful to the authorities who have put their words into action and shown a willingness to acknowledge the genuine concerns of people of faith and wider public opinion.
“It is to be hoped that a long-term solution might be found which will prevent future outbreaks of ugly sectarianism damaging the good name of Glasgow.”
A council spokesman said: “Organisers have proactively chosen to amend their route, which the council believes was the right decision.”
The new route has now been revealed as: Glenpark Street, Glendale Street, Duke Street, Wishart Street, Alexandria Parade, Todd Street, Duke Street, Fleming Street and Glenpark Street.