ANOTHER parade by a protestant organisation is expected to be re-routed away from the Catholic church where a priest was allegedly spat on and lunged at by a man following an Orange parade in July.

The Apprentice Boys of Derry (Bridgeton) had applied to march a route, which took them along London Road past St Alphonsus Church, on Sunday November 11 on their way to a Remembrance event at Cathedral Square.

The organisation has marched the same route for over ten years without incident or cause for concern but police said there is intelligence there will be protests and they have fears over public safety.

The march organisers offered to start the parade leaving Tullis Street in Bridgeton15 minutes early to avoid the morning service at St Alphonsus and to alter the route back to avoid the church and its sister church St Mary’s completely.

Police however, warn of possible disorder and recommended the route be altered.

The council ordered a march by the Orange and Purple District 37 in August, and last month by the Royal Black Preceptory, be re-routed away from the church amid police concerns about protests.

Both organisations subsequently cancelled their plans to march after the decision to re-route was imposed.

In a report to be considered by councillors next week, Superintendent John McBride, Police Scotland states: “Police Scotland has intelligence which would indicate such a protest will occur in the event that the parade goes ahead along its preferred route.”

Police recognised the efforts made by the Apprentice Boys of Derry to “alleviate the concerns of the catholic community” by parading earlier in the morning and re-routing the return journey and alos that the parade on Remembrance Sunday was of a more sombre tone

However it still has concerns about public disorder on the outward route if allowed past the church.

The Apprentice Boys voluntarily re -routed a previous march away from the church in August after talks with police and council bosses where concerns where raised.

A council spokesman said: “The committee is being held to consider a proposed procession by Apprentice Boys of Derry (Bridgeton) on November 11. A report from officers recommends re-routing the parade away from St Alphonsus’ church.”