BY Peter Diamond | August 23 | 
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Church and Police welcome move by Glasgow council to re-route Orange Walk
Police Scotland said riot police would have been deployed to combat a counter-protest if the Orange Walk had gone past the St Alphonsus' Church.
The Catholic Church in Glasgow has welcomed the ban of an Orange Order march from walking past the Church where a Catholic priest is alleged to have been attacked.
The Orange Walk scheduled to pass St Alphonsus’ church on Saturday has been re-routed.
Today, Thursday August 23, a Glasgow City council Public Processions Committee ordered that the parade be started two hours earlier and re-routed to avoid passing St Alphonsus’ Church, where Canon White and parishioners were attacked last month.
The Archdiocese and Police Scotland made strong representations to the council committee pointing out the anxieties of the community and the danger of disorder. Glasgow city councillors unanimously voted for the re-routing.
A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Glasgow said: “We are grateful to the council for taking note of our concerns and the concerns of many outwith the Catholic Church, and acting decisively to lift a cloud of anxiety which was affecting parishioners and local residents.”
Police Scotland welcomed the council’s decision to re-route Saturday’s march away from St Alphonsus’ Church.
Riots prevented
Superintent John McBride told members of the council’s Public Processions Committee that intelligence had led him to believe there was the potential for nasty scenes if the Orange Order were to walk down Stevenson Street on Saturday.
They said riot police would have been deployed to combat a counter-protest if had gone past the church.
Ken Andrew, who chaired the committee on Thursday, said: “This should be in no way read that the Orange Order is responsible for the incident involving Canon White.”
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “A Public Processions Committee held this morning imposed an alternative route and start time on a proposed march by the Orange and Purple District 37 of County Grand Orange Lodge of Glasgow.
“Committee heard evidence from Police Scotland that significant disorder was likely, should the march take place on the original route – requiring specialist officers to be drafted in from across Scotland.
“The new route for the parade, scheduled to take place on Saturday, is Tullis Street, Main Street, MacKeith Street, James Street, The Green, Newhall Street, Dunn Street, London Road, Bridgton Cross, James Street, MacKeith Street, Main Street and Tullis Street.
“The march will begin at 10.30am, rather than 12 noon. It will not pass St Alphonsus’ church.”
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