THE ULSTER Unionist Party leader has called on Glasgow to ban a republican group linked to the New IRA, who claimed responsibility for the murder of journalist Lyra McKee and are expected to attend a Glasgow memorial.
Robin Swann has contacted the Lord Provost of Glasgow and called on her to take steps to prevent Saoradh from participating in an event at Lambhill Cemetery on Sunday to commemorate the Easter Rising.
A Glasgow City Council source said that there was no mechanism to prevent entry to the cemetery.
Ms McKee, 29, died after she was struck by a bullet as she observed rioting in Londonderry"s Creggan estate on Thursday night.
The dissident republican New IRA on Tuesday admitted responsibility for the shooting of Miss McKee and has apologised to her friends and family.
Lambhill Cemetery in Glasgow is to be the scene of a wreath laying ceremony and commemoration on Sunday at the graveyard where volunteers who took part in the Easter Rising rebellion are buried in Glasgow.
It comes just four days after Ms McKee"s funeral at St Anne"s Cathedral in Belfast.
Saoradh fliers confirm a series of Easter commemorations with the only event outside of Northern Ireland and the Republic being in Scotland.
Mr Swann said:“This weekend Saoradh plan to take their politics of hate to Scotland and attend an event to commemorate the Easter Rising at Glasgow’s Lambhill cemetery.
“I have written to the Lord Provost of Glasgow to highlight the fact that Saoradh have blood on their hands, are beyond the pale and that their presence on the streets of Glasgow – accompanied by military style uniforms - would be deeply offensive and insulting to many people, not least those who have lost loved ones due to the actions of terrorists.
READ MORE: Irish Republican group linked to New IRA coming to Scotland for Easter Rising memorial
“I have therefore urged the Lord Provost to use her influence to prevent Saoradh from participating in any event in Glasgow both this weekend and in the future.
“Saoradh cancelled an event in Londonderry on Easter Monday due to their embarrassment at the murder of Lyra McKee in the Creggan, but they did participate in a walk of shame in Dublin on Saturday which involved a menacing display by a number of people in military style clothing and caused a great deal of offence.
“This group has nothing of any value to contribute to society in any part of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. It is time they were closed down and put out of business for good.”
Members of the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association in Scotland are also expected to attend.
IRPWA is a dissident republican organisation which supports republican prisoners and has ties with the political party Saoradh.
The Easter Rising was an armed insurrection in Ireland in Easter Week on April 24, 1916 mounted by Irish republicans who wanted to end British rule.
The British army quickly suppressed the rebellion, leading to an unconditional surrender on Saturday April 29. Support for independence continued to increase until the 1918 general election when republicans won 73 out of the 105 seats.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “The council has neither given permission or been approached for permission to hold any event.”
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