Police Scotland calls for Republican band under terror probe to be stopped from Glasgow marches
POLICE Scotland has called for a Republican flute band being probed over an alleged breach of the Terrorism Act to be banned from marching in Glasgow.
Screenshots of a Facebook post by the Sean McIlvenna Republican Flute Band were handed to police following disruption at a march last month.
The post included the words “we are a IRA BAND NAMED AFTER A IRA VOLUNTEER”.
And police said it shows “overt support for a terrorist organisation”.
Cops have now expressed fears for public order and urged that the band is stopped from taking part in two marches in the city, The Herald reports.
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The force has requested that Glasgow City Council’s public processions committee stops the band from taking part in the Irish Unity March, organised by the James Connolly Republican Flute Band, on Friday August 30.
It’s also requested that the group is banned from taking part in an International Brigade Commemoration, planned by Cairde Na Heireann (Calton Republicans), on Saturday September 7.
Superintendent John McBride, Specialist Operations, Police Scotland, said the post had been deleted and a band representative said it was posted out of "frustration and anger".
However, he added: "It is nonetheless in the public domain and was observed by members of the public who obtained 'screenshots' and who have made a complaint to Police Scotland.
"Initial enquires confirm the post as genuine and enquiries regarding any contravention of the Terrorism Act are ongoing in this regard.
"It is clear to those who observed the post, allied to the name of the band, the post was an accurate reflection of the band and the overt support for a terrorist organisation as proscribed by the Terrorism Act."
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He added: “In my professional judgement, the inclusion of this band in this parade could provide for a risk to public order for which a significant policing operation would be required."
The Sean McIlvenna band is being investigated following a march in the city’s east end on July 27.
The 100-strong group took off from Shuttle Street before finishing at Barrowlands Park.
Video footage emerged online showing the march being confronted by protesters along Abercromby Street, yards away from St Mary's RC Church.
A 41-year-old man was arrested in connection with an alleged fight at the march.
Speaking on the police’s request to re-route the march on September 7 away from St Mary’s and St Alphonsus, Chief Inspector Stevie Hazlett said: "The events of July 27 outside St Mary's clearly demonstrate that any organisation parading past these locations will attract counter protest and require a large police presence.
"It seems clear enough to us that this is likely to have a significant and disruptive impact on the life of the local community.
Force chiefs said it would require more than 200 officers to police the September 7 march due to tensions surrounding St Mary’s and St Alphonsus churches in Calton.
It comes after Canon Tom White was spat on last year as an Orange Walk passed St Alphonsus.
Father White was attacked during the annual Boyne Parade outside the church on July 7, 2018.
Bradley Wallace, 24, was convicted over the attack after cops found a DNA match with the saliva on the priest’s vestment.
Wallace, from Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, pleaded guilty and was jailed for 10 months.
The committee will meet on Thursday to make their decision on the September 7 march.
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