Orange Order chiefs to meet with Scottish Government over air gun attack on marchers in Glasgow
'COWARDLY ACT' Orange Order chiefs to meet with Scottish Government over air gun attack on marchers in Glasgow
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
OFFICIALS from the Scottish Government are to meet with the Orange Order after an air rifle was fired at participants in a recent march.
Thousands marched through Glasgow earlier this month as part of celebrations to commemorate the 1690 Battle of the Boyne.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
Orange Order bosses slammed yobs who fired an air rifle at marchers
3
Thousands of Orange Lodge members marched through the city on July 5
3
The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland asked to meet with the First Minister
Credit: PA
During the day, four people were struck with "air weapon pellets", according to police, while the march continued along Sauchiehall Street, near Kelvingrove Park, with no serious injuries reported.
Speaking to the PA news agency, the First Minister confirmed officials will speak to representatives of the Orange Order on Wednesday, with community safety minister Siobhian Brown due to do the same at a later date.
"The Scottish Government is meeting with representatives of the Orange Order today," he said.
"Officials will take that forward and in due course, the community safety minister will meet with the Orange Order.
"In recent days, members of the Orange Order have been subjected to acts of violence which are deplorable and they are unacceptable to whoever they affect within our society.
"These matters are currently being taken forward by Police Scotland."
The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland asked to meet with the First Minister about the "cowardly" act which they say "endangered lives".
A spokesperson said previously: "The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland expresses deep concern over the alarming incident that occurred, where members of our Institution were targeted and fired upon with an air rifle.
"This reckless act has escalated the level of hostility towards the Orange Order, endangering the lives of our members.
"The Most Worthy Grand Master urgently requests a meeting with the First Minister of Scotland to address this incident and the escalating tide of anti-Protestant sentiment we face daily.
Hundreds step out for women's Orange Walk through Glasgow
"We urge the First Minister to take decisive action against these hate crimes, including condemning the attacks on our properties and our members.
"The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland stands united with the County Grand Lodge of Glasgow and Police Scotland in ensuring that those responsible for this cowardly act are swiftly brought to justice."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
35 minutes ago
- BBC News
Parade risks 'glorification of terrorism'
A controversial band parade that "risks stepping over the line into the glorification of terrorism" is due to take place this weekend in Portadown, County Bann MLA Eoin Tennyson was speaking as more than 400 people and 15 bands are expected to take part in the event billed as the Harris Boyle 50th Anniversary Memorial parade on Boyle was known as one of the attackers of the Miami Showband murders in July deputy leader Tennyson added: "Victims should be at the heart of any discussion we're having about celebrations, commemorations and speaking about our past." The parade route is listed on the Parades Commissions website as starting at Levaghery Orange Hall, however, the Orange Order has said it's not a parade it has on The Nolan Show, Tennyson said: "To commemorate and celebrate in this public way is entirely inappropriate and I think it is absolutely wrong."Tennyson said that should apply to both sections of loyalism and republicanism. DUP MP Sammy Wilson told Talkback that while he doesn't know what the "intentions" of the parade organisers are, "I don't believe that we should be, in any way, trying to glorify the terrorist acts of the past". 'Failed to deal with NI's past' Former DUP special advisor, David Graham said there is no doubt that this was an "incredibly tragic event and a needless act of violence".Mr Graham said: "We have failed to deal with the past in Northern Ireland, it is on all of us in a way."He said there are members of the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist (PUL) community who feel like their identity is "constantly under attack" and this was a way for those people to protect and defend their said the commemoration is "not something that I agree with".However, he said the first minister has said in unequivocal terms that there was no alternative in her view to the violence of the past, "there are many people not just in the PUL community, who will simply say, what's good for the goose is good for the gander". Former Sinn Féin MP Francie Molloy said the first minister's previous comments about violence in the past should be taken "in context".Mr Molloy added: "We don't have a proper way for remembering the dead and everyone has a right to remember their dead."But, he said that the Miami Showband were some of the "most innocent" people, killed and the "UDR and UVF combined together to take out this band". Commenting on social media, UUP assembly member Doug Beatie, said the parade was "utterly appalling". What was the Miami Showband attack? The bomb and gun attack happened as the band, which toured across Ireland, travelled home to Dublin after a gig in minibus was stopped by a fake Army patrol involving Ulster Defence Regiment and Ulster Volunteer Force Boyle was killed when the bomb which was placed on the Miami Showband bus exploded gang then opened fire, murdering singer Fran O'Toole, guitarist Tony Geraghty and trumpeter Brian Travers and another band member, Des McAlea, were injured but bomb also killed Wesley Somerville who was commemorated in April at a memorial parade in Moygashel in County Tyrone.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
John Swinney 'accepts Donald Trump dinner invitation'
The First Minister will dine with the US president in Aberdeenshire on Monday evening, Sky News reports. It comes ahead of their official talks scheduled for Tuesday, where Swinney is expected to make the case for a tariff exemption on Scotch whisky, currently taxed at 10% for import to the US. The First Minister (below) told BBC Breakfast: 'Tariffs are very important for the Scottish economy and obviously scotch whisky is a unique product. (Image: Duncan Glynn) 'It can only be produced in Scotland. It's not a product that can be produced in any other part of the world. So there's a uniqueness about that, which I think means there is a case for it to be taken out of the tariffs arrangement that is now in place.' He is also expected to press the president to throw his weight behind a ceasefire in Gaza, which is expected to feature in Trump's conversations with Keir Starmer on Monday. Swinney has found himself under fire for courting Trump during his private visit to Scotland, which takes in trips to his golf courses in Ayrshire and [[Aberdeen]]shire. Protests are organised to coincide Trump's visit to his resort at Menie – to which Swinney pledged an £180,000 cash injection from the public purse. READ MORE: Man arrested for alleged 'abusive behaviour' at anti-Trump protest Swinney has also claimed that Trump's visit could boost tourism to Scotland. Writing in the Daily Record, the First Minister said that 'millions of Americans including Trump have ancestral links to Scotland and that the US was 'our largest inward investor' and 'Scotland's top international export destination'. He cited Trump's visit as an opportunity for American citizens to 'see the very best that our country has to offer' and that 'many of those watching this visit are, of course, future potential tourists and investors in Scotland'. A protester on Balmedie Beach ahead of a visit by the US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the president's Menie golf course in Aberdeenshire (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) Speaking over the weekend, Stop Trump Scotland organiser Alena Ivanova said that the Scottish Government had to be held to account for 'handing over hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayer money for a golf tournament hosted at Trump International even while he attempts to bully us with tariffs'. She added: 'This message is to Donald Trump but also our elected leaders preparing to meet him: there is no place for Trumpism in Scotland.' Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie also criticised the cash award for the [[Aberdeen]]shire golf course ahead of the Nexo Championship next month, saying: 'This shames Scotland. It's an embarrassing attempt to please a bully and shows the same craven attitude as [[Keir Starmer]]. We should be standing in solidarity with the people on the receiving end of [[Donald Trump]]'s regime.' The Scottish Government was approached for comment.
Scotsman
6 hours ago
- Scotsman
Edinburgh is going nowhere under Labour
Conservative councillor Neil Cuthbert Aberdeen just hosted the Tall Ships race, welcoming 400,000 visitors to Scotland's biggest tourism event this year. The major Union Square shopping centre broke footfall records with over 140,000 visitors during the weekend. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Did these massive crowds cause traffic chaos? Actually, no. Traffic Scotland reported drivers were 'getting a good run on the A90, A96 and the AWPR this afternoon' on Sunday. This contrasts sharply with Edinburgh, where large-scale events like Murrayfield concerts regularly cause bypass gridlock. The difference is simple: the north east has invested in proper trunk road infrastructure, particularly the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR). The results speak for themselves. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon noted in 2019 that the AWPR shifted vehicles away from nose-to-tail traffic, reducing emissions and improving air quality for around 75,000 homes while creating better conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. You might expect Edinburgh's politicians to learn from this success. Think again. An artist's impression of the proposed Sheriffhall roundabout flyover At June's Transport Committee, I proposed a comprehensive motion requesting traffic impact assessment for the City Mobility Plan's proposed road closures. The A720 bypass already handles over 120,000 vehicles daily beyond capacity, with frequent congestion at key junctions. Recently both East Lothian and Midlothian councils have written to the Scottish Government expressing frustration over delays to the Sheriffhall roundabout improvements. My motion sought proper analysis of how city centre road closures planned by the council might worsen A720 congestion, especially during major events. Recent examples like Robbie Williams' concert at Murrayfield in May demonstrated the bypass's vulnerability to traffic displacement. I requested investigation of mitigation measures, enhanced public transport options and coordination with the Scottish Government on this trunk road responsibility. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The response? Labour's Convener moved to simply ignore the mounting evidence, with the Liberal Democrats, SNP and Greens ganging up to pretend these road problems don't exist. No evidence-based assessment. No consideration of network resilience. No coordination with neighbouring councils. Just 'do nothing'. This coalition of inaction leaves Edinburgh commuters facing daily chaos with no hope of improvement. While Aberdeen demonstrates how proper road investment creates benefits for everyone – drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike – Edinburgh's politicians prefer ideological posturing over practical solutions. Labour has run out of ideas for Edinburgh. Their approach of ignoring problems while they worsen shows complete indifference to residents' daily struggles. When these parties next seek your vote, perhaps the response should be 'No Action' in return.
