Priest ‘spat on’ during Orange parade

Police are investigating allegations of assault after the Catholic Church claimed a priest was spat on during an Orange walk.

The Archdiocese of Glasgow said Canon Tom White had been speaking to parishioners outside St Alphonsus Church in the city when he was spat on twice, before being lunged at by a man with a pole.

In a statement on Facebook, the archdiocese said Canon White and his parishioners had been “subjected to vile abuse”.

The Church said: “What kind of a society is it that allows ministers and churchgoers to be intimidated and attacked by a group which has a long history of fomenting fear and anxiety on city streets?”

“Why is the Orange Order still allowed to schedule its intimidating parades on streets containing Catholic churches when people are in and out for Mass?”

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “These are extremely concerning reports and it is right that they are being investigated. I am confident the police will treat this case with the seriousness it deserves.” A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “While the parade was passing the church at the time, any involvement, if at all, by someone from the Orange walk is still to be established.”