Two upcoming Irish Republican group parades to be reviewed after Govan Riot

Updated police information will inform any decisions taken by the council regarding the two marches in the city centre.

It comes as the council leader said the local authority may need to “push the law” on parades in order to protect the public from any repeat of the events in Govan.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “We’ll look again at the processions scheduled for this weekend once we have an updated assessment from police.

“It is important we understand what impact they expect the events of Friday night to have on those processions.”

Council leader Susan Aitken said that the council has limited powers as it must balance the right to protest with the protection of the public.

Discussions are taking place this week ahead of the marches.

It follows a summer where several marches by the Orange Order and Apprentice Boys of Derry were re-routed from a Catholic Church on the advice of the police surrounding planned protests.

Saturday’s two parades were granted permission before the scenes on Friday night which led to calls for tougher action on potentially disruptive events.

Ms Aitken said that the council is limited by law in what it can do but said that the law may need to be tested.

She said: “There’s no doubt we need to have some very serious discussions with the police and with our colleagues in Scottish Government, which we are doing.

“The law is very clear about this, the council’s powers are certainly very, very limited. The police perhaps can do more. The intelligence they give us determines the decisions we are able to make which I say are limited.”

She added: “There may be an issue about legislation here that we maybe need to test. I am absolutely clear the council’s procedures are not in any way at fault here.

“The council made the ­decisions that the council has the ability to make.

“Over the past year Glasgow City Council has pushed the law as far as we can on this to the extent that we have been taken to court and it may well be that that’s how we have to do this again.

“Human rights law trumps domestic law. People absolutely have a human right to march and process and we have the duty to facilitate that.

“We’re at the point now where that right is being abused and therefore we have to consider as a public authority alongside the other public authorities who have a role in this that we push the law further in order to protect the public.”

A Spanish Civil War International Brigade commemoration march by Cairde na hEireann Calton Republicans is due to start at Millroad Street in Calton at 1.30pm and proceed to the La Pasionaria monument at Clyde Street.

Another march by Friends of Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association from Blythswood Square to Barrowland Park via the city centre is due to take place at 3pm.

A spokesman for council leader Ms Aitken said: “We constantly examine and test our procedures, within the limitations of the current legislation, to try and support our communities.

“There is no question that will continue; but it is equally important that the Minister [Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf] has indicated that, following the events of Friday night, he is also now open to discussions about further action.

“Any new approach to parades requires partnership between all levels of government, police and our communities – so that commitment is very welcome.”

Residents' views

UNDER the watchful eye of the old ship yards, the streets of Govan erupted on Friday.

Protesters descended on an Irish Unity march, sparking chaos around Elder Park and down Govan Road.

One eyewitness described an “absolute war zone” as barricades were erected and mounted officers, a helicopter and dog units rushed to the scene.

Photos soon emerged of riot police, illuminated by bin fires, trying to keep the situation under control.

But, on a wet Monday, the streets were quiet again – the calm after a sectarian storm which had engulfed the area.

Those outside were shocked and appalled by what had unfolded near to their homes and businesses just days earlier.

One local councillor labelled the scenes “disgraceful”, insisting the actions of the groups involved are not a true reflection of the “peaceful and inclusive” area he represents.

Shops, which closed early on Friday as tensions flared, were reopen while pubs, just yards from where the trouble occurred, were bustling with customers.

Shocked Gee Singh had been working in the Day-Today Express, Govan Road, on Friday evening.

He told how his boss had to shut the shop early due to the riots, losing two hours of business. “I’ve never seen anything like that before,” he said.

One woman had been visiting her dad in nearby Napier Place when the police response shot to the scene.

“Loads of police cars in a row came up the road and then all of a sudden they darted off together,” she said.

Another woman, who has worked in the area for over 20 years, had heard “hellish” accounts of what happened.

However, she said people in Govan were “salt of the earth” – echoing councillor Allan Young’s view that this incident did not reflect the Govan they both know.

“Don’t get me wrong the community has issues, but it’s rough diamonds,” she added.

Mr Young thanked Police Scotland for its work to control the situation. He said: “The scenes witnessed on Friday were disgraceful.”

Parade passes peacefully

A PARADE by a loyalist flute band took place last night passed without incident.

The Dennistoun Rangers Flute Band marched with around 100 followers from Irongray Street in Haghill at 6.45pm along Cumbernauld Road and Duke Street before dispersing around half an hour later. There was a police presence following the parade.