POLICE have warned of serious public disorder and violence and the need to deploy specialist units of officers if a St Patrick's Day parade by a fringe Loyalist group is given the green light.

Objecting to the plans by a group calling itself Regimental Blues, the force said the march through parts of Glasgow's east end would also have major implications for the public and police resources.

Glasgow City Council is expected this week to put curbs on the parade route the organisers have applied for after reaching an impasse with the group following a series of behind the scenes meetings.

The Regimental Blues, which said the route was chosen to 'break down the barriers which are traditionally associated with specific geographical areas of Glasgow', has said it will apply to hold speeches at Barrowlands Park on the Gallowgate if its application is refused.

In recent weeks the group, which has less than 100 'street activists', has been at the centre of a number of controversies after announcing it would target events marking the centenary of Ireland's Easter Rising, including a weekend protest in Motherwell over the prospect of the council flying the Irish Tricolour.

The group, which also displays a mural dedicated to a notorious Ulster Loyalist killer on its website, issued a statement on the back of the mooted plan promoted by several North Lanarkshire councillors, warning: "We will be watching."

On Tuesday, councillors in neighbouring Glasgow will vote on whether to uphold police objections that the proposed route for the Regimental Blues next month could spark major disorder.

A report on the plans states the group's organiser Kris McGurk had agreed to change part of the route and start earlier in the day but would not accept calls to stay out of the Gallowgate area, a main thoroughfare on the way to Celtic Park and home to a number of pubs used by the club's supporters.

It also claims that on two previous St Patrick's parades by the Regimental Blues there were no significant issues with the organiser and the

participants’ behaviour but that this was only down to a change of route and significant police numbers being deployed to deal with counter demonstrations.

Police Scotland has also objected to the proposal for 30 minutes of speeches at Barrowlands Park, describing it as a potential hotspot which "may cause considerable tension in this sensitive area and would increase the significant likelihood of public disorder".

It adds: "Should this be permitted, Police Scotland would have to deploy a substantial policing response in addition to the already large deployment for the procession."

The report concludes: "On balance, it is considered that there is a clear risk that if this procession was allowed to proceed as currently proposed there would be a high likelihood of public disorder with risks to public safety and extended disruption to the life of the local community.

"It is submitted that given the potential level of disruption and risk to public order which may be caused by this procession and any counter protest, it is necessary to place proportionate restrictions on the proposed procession to seek to mitigate the impact.

"This is the view of Police Scotland and the council should attach due weight to their judgement in this matter.

"Accordingly, it is recommended that consideration is given to altering the proposed route of the procession mitigating any potential disorder and reducing negative impact on the functioning of the city centre and people going about their legitimate business."

Speaking in yesterday's Sunday Herald Mr McGurk insisted his organisation was about promoting "unity" within communities and claimed it was trying to organise the St Patrick's parade to hold a "mutual celebration" in an area which he claimed was "no-go" for Loyalists.