A PROTESTANT group is contesting moves to re-route a Remembrance Day parade away from a Glasgow Catholic amid fears of public disorder.

Glasgow City Council's public processions committee has told Dalmarnock Orange and Purple District No.50 band organisers they must avoid St Mary's Church.

Police Scotland have previously raised concerns about marches going past St Alphonsus Church in Glasgow where Canon Tom White was allegedly lunged at and spat on while speaking to parishioners outside following mass as an Orange walk took place on July 7.

A 24-year-old man appeared in court accused of an assault on Canon White, aggravated by religious prejudice.

Councillors have stipulated that the Apprentice Boys of Derry (Bridgeton) must change its plan to march past St Alphonsus Church in Glasgow on November 11.

The Orange Order's County Grandmaster Eddie McGonnell criticised the latest  November 11 event ruling.

READ MORE: Row as protestant group is banned from marching past Glasgow 'priest attack' church

It is understood that The Dalmarnock Orange and Purple District No.50 band may face a counter protest as the changed route will take marchers past St Michael's Catholic Church on the Gallowgate.

Campaign group Call It Out has refused to rule out a protest outside that church after Police Scotland confirmed it won't seek a second re-route of the march.

A spokeswoman for the group said: "They (Orange Order) shouldn't be walking past Catholic churches."

Supt John McBride said 100 specialist public order officers would be deployed - five times that of any other parades in the city on the same day - if the marchers were to parade past St Mary's.

Superintendent John McBride said that St Mary's sits about a mile from St Alphonsus. 

Canon Tom White resides at the presbytery adjacent to St Mary's and he is the priest for the church.

He said: "The proposed route is now widely known, and it is anticipated that interest in the parade from both sides will significantly increase. Canon White indicated that any demonstration against the parade would be with 'his Blessing'."

He later said there were no issues over it going past St Michael’s Catholic Church which is one-and-a-half miles away from St Alphonsus.

The Orange Order's County Grandmaster Eddie McGonnell claimed that the attack on Canon Tom White had been "inflated out of all proportion".

Mr McGonnell added: "We're not convinced diverting us away from St Mary's and St Alphonsus' Churches is a temporary measure.

"We've got a deeply held concern that it may be the case that the Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow has a veto on these parades.

"It's happening at St Mary's where there was no incident. We feel this is a slippery slope."

A council officer report said of the original route: "It should be noted that the County Grand Orange Lodge of Glasgow and the Districts within the area of Dalmarnock and Bridgeton have for many years paraded on a route which has passed by St Marys Church, Abercromby Street Glasgow on many occasions and have not encountered or caused any notable issue or concern.

"However, on balance, it is considered that there is a clear risk that if this procession was allowed to proceed as currently proposed there would be a high likelihood of public disorder with risks to public safety and extended disruption to the life of the local community.

"It is submitted that given the potential level of disruption and risk to public order which may be caused by this procession and any counter protest, it is necessary to place proportionate restrictions on the procession to seek to mitigate the impact. "