Swinney accused of 'silence' over Orange walk attack

The Orange Lodge of Scotland has claimed a suspected air gun attack on its members has been met with silence from the Scottish government.

Police have launched an investigation after several marchers were hit by pellets during a procession though Glasgow city centre earlier this month.

Following a meeting with government officials in Edinburgh, a senior lodge leader claimed "silence" from the first minister was giving a "green light" to attacks on Protestant groups.

John Swinney described acts of violence against the Orange Order as "completely and utterly unacceptable".

The Orange Lodge of Scotland said eight people were hit by suspected air gun pellets during a march through Glasgow on 5 July to commemorate the 1690 Battle of the Boyne. No-one was seriously injured.

The organisation has also reported that its halls have been vandalised and that female members have been abused online.

Grand Master Andrew Murray told BBC Scotland News that he had written repeatedly to the first minister but had received no response.

Following the meeting in Edinburgh, he said he was "severely disappointed" that no ministers attended.

Mr Murray claimed "the silence from the first minister itself almost gives a green light to attack our parades".

He denied there was any sectarian aspect to the marches, adding: "We have a place in society, we're a law-abiding organisation and we work cross community."

David Walters, executive officer of the Orange Lodge of Scotland, claimed that if any other group had been attacked then the incident would have been taken more seriously.

He cited an example of "abhorrent" vandalism at a Catholic school in East Renfrewshire, which Swinney subsequently visited to express solidarity.

Mr Walters said: "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."

Asked why he though that was the case, he replied: "I think it's because we're a unionist group."

Swinney told BBC Scotland News that Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown would meet with the Orange Lodge.

He said the incidents raised by the Orange Order should be "properly and fully" investigated.

The first minister added: "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."

Thousands of people marched in Glasgow on 5 July.

Police Scotland said the procession was passing along Sauchiehall Street, near Kelvingrove Street, when the the suspected air gun attack happened.

The force said the following day that four people had been hit and that it was investigating the "dangerous" incident.

Elsewhere, four people were arrested following Orange Order processions in Lanarkshire.

Responding to the Orange Lodge's concerns, Ch Supt Jordana Emerson said: "We regularly engage with members of the Protestant community to ensure that their views and concerns are heard and we fully investigate any reports of hate crime targeted against this community or any other.

"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."

Several sectarian incidents have been reported at Orange walks in recent years.

In 2018, a priest was spat on and verbally abused as an Orange walk marched past his church in Glasgow. Bradley Wallace, from South Lanarkshire, was jailed for 10 months over the incident.