POLICE are investigating a hate crime after vandals spray painted a sectarian message on the wall of one of the city’s top Catholic schools.

It is understood that the vandalised wall at St Aloysius’ College in Garnethill contained the anti-Irish message, “The famine is over, it’s time to go home.”

Police were called to the St Aloysius' College on Hill Street at around 9pm on Sunday, August 21 to investigate while workers at the school cleaned up the graffiti this morning A police spokesman said: “At around 9pm yesterday, August 21, the police received a report of vandalism outside the school on Hill Street.

“The incident is being treated as a hate crime and enquiries are ongoing.”

A spokesperson for St Aloysius’ College added: “Graffiti was discovered on the Dalhousie Street side of the main building on the morning of Monday, August 22, following the weekend.

“The matter was reported to police and enquiries are ongoing.

“The graffiti has now been removed.”

St Aloysius’ College states on its official website that it is Scotland’s only Jesuit private school.

The website also states that the school embraces a brand of catholic education for boys and girls aged three to 18.

Many Irish Catholic immigrants came to Glasgow during the 'great famine' between 1845 and 1852 to avoid mass starvation and disease.

Moves are being made to remember their plight with Glasgow City Council planning a memorial for the victims of the Irish famine.

The memorial will commemorate the 100,000 who fled to the city to escape starvation in Ireland and those who escaped the famine in the Highlands.

The planned memorial is also underpinned by Glasgow's role as a destination for those seeking sanctuary from more recent events.