Police hunt for 4 men who sang anti-Irish famine song during Orange Order march

July 1st marchers chanted “The famine's over, why don't you go home?” outside a Catholic church

Police are searching for four men who sang a sectarian anti-Irish Famine song during a Glasgow Orange Order march, on July 1, 2017.

Video footage of the parade shows people singing the banned song, “The Famine Song,” which is deemed offensive, outside a Catholic church. The song’s lyrics urge people to leave Scotland because of their racial origin. Some of the lyrics include “The famine's over, why don't you go home?”(read the full lyrics below).

The song – sung to the air of the Beach Boys hit "Sloop John B" – was branded racist by a Scottish court in 2009.

Easy to laugh at the sheer absurdity of all of this but the sanctioned and approved anti-Irish racism on display here needs highlighted. pic.twitter.com/5gmmTHmqim

— Liam O'Hare (@Liam_O_Hare) July 2, 2017

Police in Glasgow are now searching for four men who allegedly changed the song to help them with their inquiries.

More than 60 bands attended the Glasgow parade and police reported eight arrests as well as alcohol-related offenses.

Glasgow council officials say that future parades may be prohibited or greater restrictions after this footage emerged.

Following the incident a Glasgow City Council spokesman told the Herald, "The European Convention on Human Rights enshrines the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

"However, these rights are not absolute. They must be balanced by the responsibility to ensure the rights of others are not infringed.

"As with all public processions there will be a debrief involving Police Scotland. The council will take into account any issues of public disorder, antisocial behavior or damage to property resulting from the procession."

"It will also take into consideration any evidenced issues and, if a future procession notification is received, the likelihood of any restriction or prohibition may be greater."

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said “Officers at Govan Police Office are looking for assistance in the identification of the men in the attached images following the Annual Boyne Parade in Glasgow on Saturday July 1 2017.

“It is believed they may be able to assist with inquiries.”

The footage of the Glasgow Orange Order parade in question, on July 1 2017, was one of 4,500 parades, which took place in Scotland this summer. The celebration marks the anniversary of Prince William of Orange’s 1690 Battle of the Boyne victory.

A similar incident took place in Belfast in 2012 outside St. Patrick’s Church on Donegall Street. He said, “I am 100 percent satisfied that tune was not played outside St Patrick’s to cause offense.”

In Glasgow, the Orange Order aimed to distance themselves from the incident. There were just eight arrests for “minor offenses” with no major incidents.

Executive Officer in Scotland Robert McLean said none of his members were involved in singing this banned song.

He said, "None of our members took part in this. The band played the tune, but it was the people on the streets who put the words to the tune.

"There is nothing offensive about playing a tune, only when you put the words to it.

"If there is evidence to say who was singing then I am quite sure that the police will deal with that."

The lyrics to the Famine Song are:

I often wonder where they would have been

If we hadn't have taken them in

Fed them and washed them

Thousands in Glasgow alone

From Ireland they came

Brought us nothing but trouble and shame

Well the famine is over

Why don't they go home?

 

Now Athenry Mike was a thief

And Large John he was fully briefed

And that wee traitor from Castlemilk

Turned his back on his own

They've all their Papists in Rome

They have U2 and Bono

Well the famine is over

Why don't they go home?

 

Now they raped and fondled their kids

That's what those perverts from the darkside did

And they swept it under the carpet

And Large John he hid

Their evils seeds have been sown

'Cause they're not of our own

Well the famine is over

Why don't you go home?

 

Now Timmy don't take it from me

'Cause if you know your history

You've persecuted thousands of people

In Ireland alone

You turned on the lights

Fueled you boats by night

That's how you repay us

It's time to go home.

H/T: Daily Mail,