Call for "IRA" flute band to be banned from marching in Glasgow
Screenshots of a Facebook post by the Sean McIlvenna Republican Flute Band have been handed to police following disruption at a procession in July.
Police Scotland is calling for a Republican flute band under investigation for potentially breaching the Terrorism Act to be banned from two marches in Glasgow as its presence could put public order at risk.
Screenshots of a Facebook post by the Sean McIlvenna Republican Flute Band have been handed to police following disruption at a procession in July.
The force says the post – which states “we are a IRA BAND NAMED AFTER A IRA VOLUNTEER” – shows “overt” support for a terrorist organisation.
It has requested Glasgow City Council’s public processions committee stops the band taking part in two upcoming processions – an Irish Unity March, organised by the James Connolly Republican Flute Band, on Friday, August 30 and an International Brigade Commemoration, planned by Cairde Na Heireann (Calton Republicans), on Saturday, September 7.
More than 200 officers would be needed to deal with the September 7 procession due to rising tensions around St Alphonsus and St Mary’s churches in Calton if the council do not order it to be re-routed, Police Scotland added.
This follows an incident in July last year when a man, who was later jailed, spat on Canon Thomas White as an Orange march passed St Alphonsus Church.
Since that event, marches have attracted counter protests and police say there has been “a distinct and frankly troubling change in the terms and tone of commentary and rhetoric about processions”.
The Sean McIlvenna band is under investigation after a procession in the city’s east end on July 27, where people gathered to protest the route, causing a 90 minute delay to the march.
Following the procession, the band posted on Facebook: “Take note This band does not do rerouting. Never has never will we are a IRA BAND NAMED AFTER A IRA VOLUNTEER.
“He was never re-routed he was at the forefront and we will always march in his Memory and every Irish Republican volunteers”
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.”
He said this was “unprecedented” regarding the parading situation in Glasgow, adding: “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.”
On the force’s request to re-route the September 7 march away from the two churches, 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.”
The public processions committee will also consider whether to change the start time of the August 30 march as council policy forbids music after 6pm.
Councillors can use discretion to allow music until 8pm, however this procession, with nine bands, would not finish until 8.30pm.
The committee meets on Thursday to decide whether to impose conditions on the marches.