Council chiefs say petition doesn't meet strict guidelines

Councillors will not consider a petition banning Orange walks in Glasgow despite over 78,000 signing it.

It comes after a priest was allegedly spat on and verbally abused last weekend outside St Alphonsus Church in the city as an Orange Walk passed by.

Launched by the Parish Pastoral Councils of St Mary's and St Alphonsus the petition called on Glasgow City Council to review the routes of three upcoming Orange Order parades which are scheduled to pass the churches later this month and in August.

But Glasgow City Council said that strict rules which it is required to follow prevents it considering the petition.

Guidelines say petitioners must belong to the local authority area and have the support of the local community council.

A council spokesperson said: "The eligibility criteria includes ensuring that it is only Glasgow residents or businesses who are signatories to a petition and that the petitioner has already taken steps to raise the issue of concern with elected members or the relevant council department in the first instance.

"The council's job in relation to public processions is to manage the process within the legislation set by the Scottish Parliament and to work with the police and organisers to try and mitigate against potential risks or disturbances."

First minister Nicola Sturgeon condemned the incident as police confirmed it would be investigated as a hate crime.

The SNP leader tweeted: “Hate crime of any kind is unacceptable, and we will always consider what more we must do to eradicate it.”

Scotland’s Orange Order denied any of its members were involved in the incident and condemned the “bigoted actions” of the few.