Loyalist Easter march re-routed after 2018 priest attack Published duration 16 April 2019

image caption St Alphonsus Church is close to the Barras market in the east end of Glasgow

A Loyalist parade on Easter Sunday has been re-routed as it would pass the spot where a Catholic priest was spat on last year.

Canon Tom White was assaulted outside St Alphonsus' Church in Glasgow's London Road during the annual Orange Order Boyne march last July.

After considering the application, Glasgow City Council confirmed the Easter march would be re-routed.

The Apprentice Boys of Derry (Bridgeton) were due to pass St Alphonsus' Church as part of the route.

image copyright Archdiocese of Glasgow image caption Canon Tom White was spat on by Bradley Wallace during the annual Boyne march in July 2018

Supt John McBride told the council's public processions committee the force had received highly graded intelligence that counter protests were planned.

As a result the force would have had to boost officer numbers from 20 to more than 100, as well as draft in mounted and public order officers.

A total of 81 submissions were made expressing concerns about the proposal, including one from an individual who expressed fears for their own safety.

The Apprentice Boys, who said they had used the route for 10 years without incident, asked for an afternoon meeting to arrange legal representation but their request was declined.

image copyright Google image caption St Alphonsus Church is on London Road in the east end of Glasgow

The committee heard a similar march passed the church without incident in February but increased religious activity on Easter Sunday was a identified as a cause for concern.

A council spokesman said: "Members chose to re-route the procession after hearing serious concerns, raised by Police Scotland, about the potential for disorder due to protests and counter-protests from people opposing or supporting the event."

And last week the Catholic Church called for a planned Orange Order parade on 6 July to be re-routed as it would pass the spot where Canon White was spat on.