Latest news with #PatrickMcClean
Sunday World
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Sunday World
James McClean's brother left out of Glentoran squad amid New IRA parade probe
The images appear to show Patrick McClean among a crowd at an Easter Monday parade which is linked to the New IRA. Masked men taking part in The New IRA on parade in Derry on Monday Patrick McClean has been left out of the Glentoran team as they take on Larne after the club said it was investigating footage allegedly showing the player attending a dissident republican rally in Derry. The images appear to show the defender among a crowd at an Easter Monday parade which is linked to the New IRA. Glentoran said in a brief statement they were aware that footage of one of their players was circulating online: 'The club is fully committed to maintaining a respectful, inclusive and welcoming environment for all players, staff, supporters and the wider community. 'The matter is being reviewed internally in line with club policies and no further comment will be made at this time.' McClean is a brother of the Wrexham winger and Ireland international James McClean. A colour party in paramilitary-style attire and with face-coverings joined dozens of people who marched from the Creggan area to Free Derry Corner in the Bogside. Young people wearing masks walked in front of the parade with the intention of attacking any PSNI vehicles along the route. As republicans delivered speeches in the Bogside, young people made their way to Bishop Street where there was a police presence. They subsequently attacked the PSNI with petrol bombs and fireworks close to an old people's home. There is no suggestion McClean was involved in disorder or engaged by police. Glentoran boss Declan Devine has urged his players to give it their all when they take on Larne at Inver Park this evening, with automatic European qualification on the line. The Glens require a victory to overtake Larne and secure a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers, whereas a draw or loss would mean facing the uncertainty of the European play-offs. Devine said: "We can't have any regrets come Saturday evening. We've got 90 minutes to show what we're about and we've got to give absolutely everything to come away from Inver Park with the three points and secure our place in Europe. "We've worked incredibly hard to reach this point and now it all comes down to one game - a straight shootout between ourselves and Larne. 'They only need a draw, but we were always coming here with the mentality to win. In many ways, knowing exactly what we need suits us."
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
James McClean's brother under investigation for attending IRA march
Credit: X/Sunday World James McClean's younger brother is being investigated by his football club after appearing to attend a parade linked to the New IRA. Patrick McClean, who plays for Northern Irish side Glentoran in the NIFL Premiership, was spotted in social media footage which appears to show him walking in a parade in Derry on Easter Monday. Around 200 people attended the march, at which police said petrol bombs and fireworks were thrown at them. Many attendees were dressed in paramilitary-style attire and had their faces covered. The annual march is held in Derry, also known as Londonderry, to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule, which took place in Dublin. Footage on social media appears to show the younger McClean, 28, at the event although there is no evidence he was involved in any disorder. 'Glentoran Football Club is aware of footage involving one of our players currently circulating online,' his club said in a statement. 'The club is fully committed to maintaining a respectful, inclusive and welcoming environment for all players, staff, supporters and the wider community. 'The matter is being reviewed internally in line with club policies and no further comment will be made at this time.' Gillian Kearney, the Chief Superintendent and area commander of Derry City and Strabane, called the parade 'utterly shameful'. 'Despite the claim by organisers of today's Easter Monday parade who said they wanted to hold a dignified commemoration, what we saw was the complete opposite,' she said. 'From the commencement of the parade to when it dispersed, we saw masked individuals, which we believe at this time to be a breach of the Parades Commission determination. 'As these masked individuals made their way towards the dispersal point on Lecky Road, disorder developed in the area of Nailors Row from around 2.50pm. 'Petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry were thrown which resulted in nearby Bishop Street (Without) being closed for a time for public safety reasons. 'Members of the public were diverted away from that area in the City Walls. 'This disorder involving young people was orchestrated. We have no doubt about this. 'Young people were shamelessly and deliberately used in an attempt to distract from and shield the masked individuals as they took cover in a gazebo following the parade in the area of St Joseph's Place to change out of their parade clothing. 'This is child criminal exploitation. It is utterly shameful.' Wrexham and Republic of Ireland midfielder James McClean was fined two weeks' wages by Stoke City in 2020 over a social media post showing him wearing a balaclava while teaching his children what he termed a 'history lesson'. He is also renowned for his refusal to wear a poppy or mark Remembrance Day, a stance he explained in an Instagram post in November. He wrote: 'The poppy represents for me an entire different meaning to what it does for others, am I offended by someone wearing a poppy? No absolutely not, what does offend me tho [sic], is having the poppy try be forced upon me.' He added that his stance stemmed from Bloody Sunday, in which he said British soldiers murdered '14 innocent civilians' in Londonderry in January 1972. 'That is why I never have and never will wear a poppy,' said McClean, who has a tattoo of the 'Free Derry' landmark in the city's Bogside area on his left thigh. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
James McClean's brother under investigation for attending IRA march
James McClean's brother is under investigation by his football club for appearing to attend a New IRA parade in Ireland which clashed with police. Patrick McClean, who plays for Glentoran in the NIFL Premiership, was spotted in social media footage that appears to show him walking wearing a black hoody at the parade in Derry on Easter Monday. Around 200 people attended the march, with many in paramilitary uniform. Police claimed to have petrol bombs and fireworks thrown at them. The annual march is held in Derry, also known as Londonderry, to commemorate the 1916 Easter rising against British rule, which took place in Dublin. Glentoran released a statement on Tuesday night confirming they were investigating the 28-year-old's involvement. 'Glentoran Football Club is aware of footage involving one of our players currently circulating online,' they wrote. 'The club is fully committed to maintaining a respectful, inclusive and welcoming environment for all players, staff, supporters and the wider community.' 'The matter is being reviewed internally in line with club policies and no further comment will be made at this time.' Gillian Kearney, the Chief Superintendent and area commander of Derry City and Strabane, labelled the parade as 'utterly shameful'. 'Despite the claim by organisers of [the] Easter Monday parade who said they wanted to hold a dignified commemoration, what we saw was the complete opposite,' she said. 'From the commencement of the parade to when it dispersed, we saw masked individuals, which we believe at this time to be a breach of the Parades Commission determination. 'As these masked individuals made their way towards the dispersal point on Lecky Road, disorder developed in the area of Nailors Row from around 2.50pm. 'Petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry were thrown which resulted in nearby Bishop Street (Without) being closed for a time for public safety reasons. 'Members of the public were diverted away from that area in the City Walls. 'This disorder involving young people was orchestrated. We have no doubt about this. 'Young people were shamelessly and deliberately used in an attempt to distract from and shield the masked individuals as they took cover in a gazebo following the parade in the area of St Joseph's Place to change out of their parade clothing. 'This is child criminal exploitation. It is utterly shameful.'
Extra.ie
24-04-2025
- Extra.ie
Club launches probe as McClean brother appears to attend New IRA parade
The younger brother of former Ireland international James McClean is under investigation by his club after appearing to attend a parade linked to the New IRA in Derry. Footage of James' brother, Patrick McClean, who plays for Glentoran in the Northern Ireland Football League Premiership, has been widely circulated online. It seemingly shows him walking past a masked colour party making its way from Creggan to Free Derry Corner in the Bogside on Easter Monday. Up to 200 people took part in the parade with the majority wearing paramilitary-style clothing, in contravention of a Parades Commission ruling. Patrick McClean. Pic: INPHO/Brian Little Several petrol bombs and fireworks were thrown at police monitoring the parade from the Derry Walls. The footage of Patrick McClean, 28, a defender, shows him wearing a black hoodie. Following the circulation, Glentoran released a statement confirming an internal review is taking place: 'Glentoran Football Club is aware of footage involving one of our players currently circulating online. 'The club is fully committed to maintaining a respectful, inclusive and welcoming environment for all players, staff, supporters and the wider community. The matter is being reviewed internally in line with club policies and no further comment will be made at this time.' Patrick McClean. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile PSNI Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney, area commander of Derry City and Strabane, called the involvement of young people an 'utterly shameful' attempt to distract and shield masked individuals. She said: 'From the commencement of the parade to when it dispersed, we saw masked individuals, which we believe at this time to be a breach of the Parades Commission determination. 'As these masked individuals made their way towards the dispersal point on Lecky Road, disorder developed in the area of Nailors Row from around 2.50pm. Patrick McClean. Pic: INPHO/Presseye/Philip Magowan 'Petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry were thrown which resulted in nearby Bishop Street being closed for a time for public safety reasons. 'Young people were shamelessly and deliberately used in an attempt to distract from, and shield the masked individuals as they took cover in a gazebo following the parade in the area of St Joseph's Place to change out of their parade clothing.' There is no suggestion that Patrick McClean was involved in any unlawful activity.
The Guardian
23-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Glentoran investigate footage allegedly showing player at rally linked to New IRA
The Northern Irish football club Glentoran are investigating footage that is said to show one of their players attending a dissident republic rally in Derry. The images allegedly show their defender Patrick McClean among a crowd at an Easter Monday parade which has been linked to the New IRA. Glentoran said in a brief statement they were aware that footage of one of their players was circulating online: 'The club is fully committed to maintaining a respectful, inclusive and welcoming environment for all players, staff, supporters and the wider community. The matter is being reviewed internally in line with club policies and no further comment will be made at this time.' There was no immediate response from McClean, 28, who is a brother of the Wrexham winger and Ireland international James McClean. A colour party in paramilitary-style attire and with faces covered joined dozens of people who marched from the Creggan area to Free Derry corner in the Bogside. Afterwards a group of youths attacked police with petrol bombs and fireworks. Police arrested two men, aged 30 and 55. Ch Supt Gillian Kearney of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said the disorder was orchestrated. 'Young people were shamelessly and deliberately used in an attempt to distract from and shield the masked individuals as they took cover,' she said. 'This is child criminal exploitation. It is utterly shameful.' There is no suggestion McClean was involved in disorder or engaged by police. The annual parade, which commemorates the 1916 Easter rising, has erupted in clashes in previous years. It was organised by the National Republican Commemoration Committee, which is said to arrange events on behalf of a fringe republican party called Saoradh that has been linked to the New IRA, although it denies this. McClean, who is from Derry and played for the city's club as well as Waterford and Sligo Rovers, joined Glentoran in 2019. He quit football early in 2023 and reportedly worked at building sites before rejoining the east Belfast club later that year. His brother James was fined two weeks' wages in 2020 by his then club, Stoke City, for a social media post that showed him wearing a balaclava while teaching his children what he termed a 'history lesson'.
