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Orange Lodge criticizes Government response to Attack During Glasgow March
David Walters, executive officer of the Orange Lodge of Scotland, has voiced criticism regarding the perceived lack of a strong governmental response to an incident where eight individuals were reportedly shot during a march in Glasgow on July 5th.Walters suggested that if a different group had been targeted, the event would have garnered more serious attention.He drew a comparison to a recent act of vandalism at a Catholic school in East Renfrewshire, wich he described as “abhorrent.” Walters noted that First Minister Swinney visited the school to express solidarity in the aftermath of that incident. “The first minister, in days, was over at that school for graffiti, yet when eight people are shot we don’t see sight or sound of him,” Walters stated, attributing this perceived disparity to the Orange Lodge being a “unionist group.”
In response to these concerns, Swinney informed BBC Scotland News that community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown would be meeting with representatives from the Orange lodge. The First Minister emphasized that the incidents raised by the Orange Order warrant “proper and full” investigation. He further stated, “I take all forms of hate within our society deadly seriously and all my actions as first minister are designed to address the implications of hate within our society and to make sure that we live in a cohesive society that respects the rule of law.”
The march in Glasgow on July 5th saw thousands of participants. Police Scotland reported that the procession was proceeding along Sauchiehall Street, near Kelvingrove Street, when the suspected air gun attack occurred. The following day, the force confirmed that four individuals had been struck and that the incident was being investigated as “dangerous.”
Separately,four arrests were made in connection with Orange Order processions in Lanarkshire.
Responding to the Orange Lodge’s concerns, Ch Supt Jordana emerson stated, “We regularly engage with members of the Protestant community to ensure that thier views and concerns are heard and we fully investigate any reports of hate crime targeted against this community or any other.” Emerson added, “Anyone who reports a crime should expect to be listened to and treated in line with our values. Hate crime is utterly deplorable, can cause deep psychological harm, and victims are often already vulnerable.”
The article also notes that several sectarian incidents have been reported at Orange walks in recent years. It references an incident in 2018 where a priest was subjected to spitting and verbal abuse as an orange walk passed his church in Glasgow. Bradley Wallace, from South Lanarkshire, was subsequently jailed for 10 months for his involvement in that incident.
