Celtic are facing calls from politicians in Northern Ireland to take action against fans who held up a banner “glorifying convicted IRA terrorist Brendan McFarlane”.
The banner, which hailed McFarlane as a “hero” following his death on Friday, was unfurled at Celtic Park on Tuesday night ahead of the Scottish champions’ 5-1 win against Aberdeen.
“Bik” McFarlane was jailed in 1976 for a gun and bomb attack on the Bayardo Bar on Belfast’s Shankill Road, which killed five people and injured 60 others. He was also the leader of IRA prisoners in the Maze during a 1981 hunger strike and led a mass escape of 38 inmates two years later which saw seven prison officers stabbed or shot, one of whom died from a heart attack. He was later caught in Amsterdam and extradited to Northern Ireland before being released on parole in 1997.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell tabled an early day motion at Westminster raising concern about Tuesday’s banner and calling on Celtic to take action against those responsible, while party colleague Phillip Brett MLA wrote to the club’s chairman, Peter Lawwell, copying in the Scottish Football Association and Uefa. They also called for the University of Glasgow to take action against a professor they say shared the display on social media.
Campbell said: “The display at Celtic Football Club’s match against Aberdeen last night, where a banner was exhibited glorifying convicted IRA terrorist Brendan McFarlane, has caused great hurt and offence. This was an abhorrent act that disrespects the memory of his innocent victims and causes deep hurt to those who suffered at the hands of terrorism.
“Brendan McFarlane was a cold-blooded terrorist, who was responsible for numerous murders, including the 1975 Bayardo Bar Massacre, where five innocent people were killed – among them 17-year-old Linda Boyle. He later led the 1983 Maze Prison escape, which resulted in the murder of a prison officer and injuries to others. That same year, McFarlane is widely believed to have been involved in the kidnapping of a supermarket executive, during which a Garda officer and a member of the Irish Defence Forces were killed.
“Those Celtic supporters involved must be dealt with by the club, and by the law, but so too should those who shared the display on social media, including a professor at the University of Glasgow. Similar investigations must be made by university leaders and appropriate action taken.”
Brett added: “That anyone with any sense of morality would seek to define such an individual as a hero is beyond comprehension, but given the display at their stadium, it is incumbent on Celtic Football Club to take immediate action. Those responsible for this disgraceful display must be identified, and Police Scotland should investigate the matter under the Terrorism Act 2006. The steps they take now will be a clear indication of how seriously they treat the hurt and offence caused to innocent victims of terror.
“I have written to Celtic Football Club to express my revulsion, and the revulsion of the wider community of the Shankill, at this display and to demand that firm action be taken.
“There can be no place in football, or in society, for the glorification of terrorism. We await evidence that Celtic Football Club will act decisively.”
Celtic have been repeatedly fined by Uefa down the years for pro-IRA banners and chanting, as well as pro-Palestinian displays.
Their latest controversial tribute came less than a month after they sang “Lizzie’s in a box” and “If you hate the Royal family, clap your hands” in front of the Prince of Wales during their 4-2 Champions League defeat at Aston Villa.
They also unfurled a banner glorifying Michael Fagan, who broke into the bedroom of Queen Elizabeth II in 1982.
