Apprentice Boys Glasgow parade rerouted away from church where priest was spat on

The original route for the Apprentice Boys of Derry (Bridgeton) Easter Sunday parade would have passed St Alphonsus Church, Glasgow, where Father Thomas White was targeted as an Orange walk went by on July 7 last year.

Father White was spat on as he spoke to parishioners outside the place of worship in London Road.

Bradley Wallace was jailed for 10 months in February after admitting assaulting the priest – a charge aggravated by religious prejudice.

Glasgow City Council rerouted the procession, which will go from Tullis Street to Cathedral Square and back, away from the church, following a meeting on Tuesday.

A council spokesman said: “Members chose to reroute the procession after hearing serious concerns, raised by Police Scotland, about the potential for disorder due to protests and counter-protests from people opposing or supporting the event.”

The Archdiocese of Glasgow tweeted: “We welcome the decision of @GlasgowCC to reroute the march planned for Easter Sunday morning past St Alphonsus and St Mary’s.

“The right of ordinary people to go to Mass on Easter morning, free from intimidation and fear, is one that must be respected and defended.”