St Patrick’s Day Loyalist march approved on shortened route
A Loyalist parade in the east end of Glasgow to mark St Patrick’s Day will go ahead, despite police warnings it could spark violence if allowed on its first planned route.
The Regimental Blues, a fringe Loyalist group, submitted a request to Glasgow City Council in September last year for permission to stage a parade through the east end of the city and into the centre.
It said the march would involve around 75 people, last one hour and 45 minutes and start at 1.30pm on Saturday, March 12. The group said the purpose of the procession was a St Patrick’s Day parade.
Then in January, the Regimental Blues went back to the council to request a change to the route which would include the Gallowgate, where there are number of pubs frequented by Celtic fans.
Representatives from the Loyalist group said the route has been chosen to break down the barriers which are traditionally associated with specific geographical areas of Glasgow and their attachment to so-called Republican or Loyalist causes.
They also said the march was to “celebrate St Patrick’s Day, lay a wreath of remembrance to all those that had fallen in armed conflicts at the Cenotaph”.
The march was approved following a meeting at Glasgow City Chambers on Tuesday, but only on the basis that the route was altered to avoid potential flashpoints in the Gallowgate.
Police Scotland representatives outlined their observations on the proposed procession and indicated their objection to the “procession taking place as submitted”.
Officers said if the parade takes place on the initial route outlined there would be a “high risk to public safety, a high risk of public disorder and a high risk of disruption to the life of the community”. They also said the event would have to be policed by specialist riot officers.
A report to the council about the march stated: “It is understood that these observations were informed by the experience of previous events involving Regimental Blues in March 2014 and March 2015 in the city centre area.”
It added: “It is submitted that in this instance there is a significant risk of disruption to the life of the community should the procession be permitted to take place as proposed as a result of potential confrontation between participants and followers on the one hand, and demonstrators opposed to the procession on the other.
“It is the responsibility of Police Scotland to protect public safety generally and the safety of those participating in the parade, in particular.
“The city council, in performing its statutory duties, has a responsibility to seek to ensure that citizens are free to go about their legitimate business without undue interference or risk to their personal safety.
“In these circumstances, it is considered appropriate that appropriate measures are put in place to minimise risk.”
Council officials approved the march on an altered route steering clear of potential flashpoints.
A spokesman for the march organisers said they were happy with the outcome.
