ORANGE Order parades planned for coming weeks are to be rerouted away from the scene of last weekend’s Glasgow hate attack on a Catholic priest.
The move, following a petition calling for a blanket ban on Orange walks in the city, is expected to set Glasgow City Council on collision course with the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland which is fiercely protective of its parade routes.
City Council leader Susan Aitken said today that the authority is prepared to take action to ensure marches planned for coming weeks do not pass by St Alphonsus Church in the Barras area.
Canon Tom White was speaking to parishioners outside the church on Saturday when he was spat on twice and lunged at by a man with a baton.
The incident, which occurred as an Orange Walk passed by, has been branded a 'hate crime', has been condemned by the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, which has pledged to work with police to trace those responsible.
Today Cllr Aitken stressed her revolt at the incident, but insisted that the council has no legal authority to introduce a blanket ban on parades.
However, she confirmed the council plans to closely examine national legislation governing public processions, and called on the MSPs to consider how it can be strengthened.
She added: “I am acutely aware that further parades are scheduled in the area in the coming weeks – and have made it clear to officers that the council is prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure those marches do not pass the scene of Saturday’s incident.”
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