AN Irish Republican march planned for this weekend has been blocked by councillors after police claimed it would carry a "clear potential" for serious disorder and violence.

Glasgow City Council has declined permission for the parade whic was set for this Saturday afternoon in the south side of Glasgow and was organised to mark the 45th anniversary of the introduction of the Special Powers Act to introduce internment without trial in Northern Ireland for those suspected of being involved in violence.

The council's public procession committee has now told the organisers that they can hold the march on  September 3, despite organisers, Independent Republican Bands Scotland (IRBS)  saying the date was non-negotiable.

A spokesman for the council said: "The committee recognises the organiser's right to hold a public procession. In the interests of public safety, it has amended the date and route."

The march will be allowed to assemble in Drakemire Drive at 10:45 and start at 11:00.

It would then follow Lainshaw Drive, Carmunock Road, Croftfoot Road, and proceed by consent into South Lanarkshire Council area.

Councillors made the decision after being told police are concerned that if the parade takes place on Satuirday "there would be a high risk to public safety, a high risk of public disorder and a high risk of disruption to the life of the community". 

They said the risks could only be contained by "substantial deployment" of  Police Scotland resources, including specialist public order trained officers. 

They said that due to other competing events of the day, including two Glasgow Scottish Premiership matches at Ibrox and Firhill, and four other processions, one of which is expected to draw 3000 supporters, they would have to draw police resources from other local authority areas.  

Police Scotland also pointed to an anti-internment parade in September, 2014, which was halted on Castlemilk Drive, Glasgow in the interests of public safety.  Police made 12 arrests.

Glasgow Times:

Police said the parade had followed the same route as proposed and resulted in "serious public disorder... resulting in arrests for mobbing and rioting and other public order offences".   

The agreement to re-introduce internment came at a meeting between the then prime minister of Northern Ireland Brian Faulkner and the UK prime minister Edward Heath on August 5, 1971.

IRBS had said it wanted the march to begin at 1.30pm on Saturday on Drakemire Drive in Castlemilk and continue for an hour and 45 minutes to Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire.