Police Superintendent promises action (again) after anti-Catholic incidents in Kings Park

For the fourth time in 13 months large groups of people have been shouting and celebrating their hatred of Catholics on the streets of Glasgow. 

Last March and May, while the city was in lockdown, George Square was the scene as thousands gathered to drink alcohol, vandalise the city centre and spew out their hatred of Catholics. 

In August a group of around 900 were watched by Police Scotland as they made their way from the city centre towards Ibrox, under Central Station on Argyle Street they sang the Famine Song urging people of Irish descent in Scotland to leave. 

It is believed that less than 100 charges have been made over the combined George Square incidents despite crocodile tears from many politicians. Nine people were arrested over singing The Famine Song. 

Yesterday the crime scene switched to the Kings Park area at lunchtime on Easter Sunday. 

Speaking to The Sun, Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, Divisional Commander for Greater Glasgow said:  

The Scottish Cup semi-final between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Sunday 17 April was a large and complex operation that involved officers working with a range of partners across the country to ensure the match went ahead safely and with minimal disruption to the wider public. 

Police Scotland had a proportionate plan in place to support the event and to deal swiftly with acts of violence, disorder and anti-social behaviour. Prior to kick off a group of Rangers supporters were escorted to the stadium. 

The focus of the policing operation at this time was public safety and the quick movement away from an area where there was a high risk of disorder between supporter groups. 

Video evidence footage was taken at that time and enquiries are now ongoing into alleged sectarian and anti-Catholic singing from those being escorted. 

Anti-Catholic and indeed all forms of hate crime are completely unacceptable and today’s events again remind us of the ongoing challenges we have in some parts of Scotland with sectarianism. 

Police Scotland must of course play its part in a wider and joined up response and I expect arrests to be made following today’s match. 

Elections to Scottish Councils take place on May 5. 

Police Scotland have established a dedicated inquiry team to investigate the disorder, involving Rangers fans, at George Square on Saturday.

An online portal has also been created for the public to send video footage or photographs.

As things stand, there’s been 28 arrests.

— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) May 17, 2021

2/ I’m also angry on behalf of every law abiding citizen. In normal times, the violence & vandalism, & the vile anti Catholic prejudice that was on display, would have been utterly unacceptable. But mid-pandemic, in a city with cases on the rise, it was also selfish beyond belief

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 16, 2021

Rangers fan jostle with cops & sing offensive chants ahead of Scottish Cup clashhttps://t.co/aU8Xqddxgb

— The Scottish Sun (@ScottishSun) April 17, 2022