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Hardline Loyalists and Republicans have fanned the flames of hatred after a weekend of sectarian chaos on Glasgow’s streets.

Feared dissident IRA chiefs in Ireland’s most dangerous jails revealed their “admiration” for controversial Republican parades on Saturday.

While Loyalist groups, previously linked to proscribed terror groups, blasted the other side as “Irish republican murder gangs” and backed those who staged counter demonstartions.

Irish Republican prisoners - who reject the Good Friday peace agreement in Northern Ireland - sent a message of support from their cells at Portlaoise, Maghaberry and Mountjoy jails saying they “stand firmly” with supporters who marched in Glasgow.

(Image: PA)

In a statement the prisoners said: “We commend those who stood undeterred in the face of such bigotry, hatred and provocation, by those hell bent on disrupting the parade from the outset.

“While showing great resilience in the face of such hostility, it is as important as ever that Republicans do not give in to such intimidation.”

The news comes as Glasgow braces itself for 14 marches over the next three weeks.

On Saturday Republican group Cairde na hÉireann marched to the La Pasionaria statue on the Clydeside to remember the 550 people from Scotland who fought in the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War.

Another organisation - The Friends of the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association (IRPWA) - held a separate march.

The group reportedly has ties to Saoradh, the Republican organisation linked to the murder of journalist Lyra McKee, 29, in Londonderry earlier this year.

The statement from the inmates added: “We commend Friends of IRPWA Scotland and Saoradh who continue to lead the way in this regard in support of Irish Republican Prisoners held in both British and Free State gaols, while showing that Republicans will not be dictated to by Loyalist bullies.”

A huge police operation in Glasgow on Saturday stopped a repeat of the full-scale riot which developed in Govan the previous week when Loyalists tried to disrupt another Republican parade.

However, there were still 11 arrests on Saturday while a police officer was hospitalised after being hit by a flare thrown by one of the Loyalist protesters.

(Image: Jamie Williamson)

The Progressive Unionist Party, which has been linked to the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), justified the bid to disrupt Republican marches.

A spokesman for Progressive Unionist Party Scotland, said: “While the protests organised against last Friday’s parade by Irish republican sympathisers was initially to express disagreement with the march being allowed to pass the cenotaph in Govan, PUP Scotland along with many concerned residents were shocked to see a banner on parade in support of the dissident republican group that have admitted responsibility for the killing of journalist Lyra McKee.

“We have no doubt much of the trouble and disorder was caused by outright anger at the sight of this organisation marching in Glasgow.

"We as a party cannot condone violence or damage to property but we can understand the frustrations felt when those openly supporting illegal Irish republican groups are allowed to march.

"We were shocked and disappointed by the decision to permit two more parades in Glasgow on Saturday organised by Irish republican groups, one of whom openly claims to support those already convicted for crimes linked to Irish republican terrorism.”

PUP Scotland branch chairman Sandy Nicol, said: “I’m shocked and angry that Glasgow City Council and Police Scotland allow the support for Irish republican murder gangs to be displayed on the streets of Glasgow.

“We as a party fully accept everybody’s right to freedom of expression and the right to march as well as the right to protest but we are opposed to those openly supporting Irish republican terror groups that are proscribed under the Terrorism Act.

“A disgraceful decision by all involved.”

Meanwhile, David Scott of anti-sectarian charity Nil by Mouth said: “A cap on numbers and a fair usage policy on marches is the way to go.”