Apprentice Boys of Derry cancel Easter Sunday march

A PROTESTANT loyal order group have cancelled an Easter Sunday parade after being forced to re-route the march away from a Catholic church.

The Apprentice Boys of Derry were told on Tuesday by councillors that their planned procession could not pass St Alphonsus church, where parish priest Canon Tom White was spat at during an Orange Walk last year.

Organisers were asked to change their plans after Police Scotland said the original route would potentially cause a “significant risk to public order”.

Now, Glasgow City Council’s website states that the organisers have now withdrawn their request to parade.

The Apprentice Boys had put forward an amended route to avoid key services times but this would still have passed St Alphonsus and its sister church St Mary’s, where Canon White is also priest.

The unusual decision to intervene was taken after reports of planned protests and supporters expected on the route on Sunday.

More than 80 representations were made by members of the public, with a number raising fears the parade would “inflame tensions” in the local community.

In October another Apprentice Boys of Derry march held on Remembrance Day was re-routed after concerns were raised. Again, the group decided to cancel the march afterwards.

On that occassion, as well as the one to be held on Easter Sunday, the group intended to pass St Alphonsus’ Church where Canon Tom White was attacked last summer.

Yesterday, Glasgow City Council responded to claims it discriminated against Protestants by re-routing the Easter parade.

Scottish Protestants Against Discrimination have planned a protest against the local authority, which it claims “attacked the culture and beliefs” of Protestants by blocking the march.

They claimed the move created a “no-go” zone around the St Alphonsus Church.

A council spokesman said: “There is no such thing as a no-go area for any organisation. A procession passed the site in question earlier this year.”