Two yobs were convicted of being part of a mob that hurled abuse at a police cordon as they waited to protest against a Republican march.

Leader of the chaotic group was Alan Williams, 38, acting with William Wilson, 52, because the pair disagreed with the marching passing by the house of the mother of murdered soldier Dougald McGaughey.

The 23-year-old, and brothers John and Joseph McCaig were shot dead by the IRA during the troubles in Northern Ireland in 1971.

Williams and Wilson chanted “IRA sympathisers” and “IRA scum” at police on the cordon and sang the famine song while waiting on the Republican march to pass.

One police officer claimed it was the “most frightening day” of their 16 year career.

During the chaos the pair, along with over 100 others - charged at police, attempting to break through the cordon.

After a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court Williams, from Bridgeton and Wilson from Burnside were convicted of breaching the peace, with a racial aggravation.

The two painters and decorators were also accused of assaulting two police sergeants, but were cleared of those charges.

Both men accepted being at Castlemilk Drive and waiting on the march but denied trying to break the cordon or shouting sectarian abuse, or inciting others to act in that way.

A number of police gave evidence at the trial, pinpointing Williams as the ringleader who ordered the 100 plus crowd to “charge” at officers.

The trial heard that the march which was due to move through Castlemilk to Rutherglen had to be abandoned because of concerns for public safety.

When police were informed that there was protestors at Castlemilk Drive - where Williams and Wilson were - it was brought to an end, although the group were never told.

The jury was told Wilson, who had gone to the march with the intention of disrupting the event, told police “you can’t stop me getting through” and “you can’t f****** stop me”.

The court was told he wanted to stop the march passing when it got to where they were.

He denied singing the famine song or shouting any racist or sectarian slurs, but claimed he opposed the march because of the route, and there had never been a Republican march in Rutherglen.

He claimed he wrote to his MSP to oppose the route because it would the parade past the house of the mother of murdered soldier Dougald McGaughe.

In evidence Williams also said he didn’t agree with the route because it was passing through Mrs McGaughey’s street.

He said: “I don’t agree, it’s insensitive marching by someone’s house in the circumstances.”

He denied shouting “Charge, charge at IRA sympathisers” although said he spoke to an officer at the cordon who “offended him” by pushing him so he insulted him.

Williams said he shouted and swore but only went to protest.

Sheriff Sam Cathcart deferred sentence until next month.

It was reported last year that sectarian graffiti was daubed on a monument dedicated to the three soldiers that were killed.

The memorial was erected to mark the spot at White Brae, Ligoniel, on the outskirts of north Belfast, where the three off-duty fusiliers were shot.

It has been vandalised more than 20 times since it was built in 2010, with the support of the Royal British Legion.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said at the time they received a report of criminal damage and were treating it as a hate crime.