Glasgow Orange Order groups lose court fight with council over rerouting of parade past Catholic church where priest was spat on
LOYALIST groups have lost a court bid against Glasgow City Council’s decision to reroute a parade past a Catholic church where a priest was spat on.
Four groups had been set to take part in a march this weekend which intended to pass St Alphonsus – where Canon Tom White was attacked last year.
But council bosses ordered the parade route to be changed following safety concerns from cops.
A court battle was launched by the organisations to have the decision, but a judge ruled in favour of the city council at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday.
Neil MacDougall QC, representing the four loyalist groups, said changing the route of the parade would be a breach of members’ Article 11 right – the right to freedom of assembly and association.
The court also heard evidence from Police Scotland’s Chief Constable who said around 100 officers would be needed to police the march.
Counter protest organised for 1,000-strong Orange Walk past Catholic church in Glasgow
Sheriff Stuart Reid ruled in favour of the council, saying its decision was “adequate, proper and intelligent”.
Four organisations - Bridgeton Orange and Purple District 37, Dalmarnock Orange and Purple District 50, Dalmarnock No Surrender Branch Club and the Apprentice Boys of Derry (Bridgeton) - were involved in the appeal over the re-routing at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
They will also have to pay court costs to Glasgow City Council.
A spokesman for the council said: “We note the Sheriff’s comment that the council’s actions have been lawful, necessary and proportionate and will take the time to consider his full judgement once it is available.”
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A spokeswoman for campaign group Call It Out said: "Sheriff Reid's decision has now given Glasgow City Council and all other local authorities in Scotland the legal certainty to enable them make reasonable decisions which protect Scotland's minority Catholic community from marches past their Churches.
"We call on those local authorities to use their powers to protect Catholics.
"They would and should do so for other minority communities and we simply seek the same protections."
Father White was spat on outside his church on London Road during an Orange Walk on July 7 last year.
Bradley Wallace, 24, pleaded guilty and was jailed for 10 months over the attack.
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