Police are investigating a Celtic fans banner honoring IRA bomber Brendan McFarlane, increasing pressure on the club to respond.
The display was widely criticized, and police confirmed they received a complaint about it. Police said they are checking the complaint and are looking into the matter.
McFarlane died this month at age 74. He was involved in the Bayardo Bar attack in Belfast back in 1975 where Five people died, including a 17-year-old girl. McFarlane drove the other attackers to the pub and got a life sentence in 1976.
He led IRA prisoners during the Hunger Strikes and escaped from prison in 1983. He fled to the Republic of Ireland afterwards, taking a civilian hostage along the way.
He possibly killed a police officer then, but the trial about that collapsed in 2008. The Green Brigade honored him despite his past by displaying a banner with his picture. Other banners went up beside it.
One said, “He’s a hero now,” and another, in Gaelic, asked for God to seat his soul. McFarlane’s funeral took place hours before Celtic played. A victims group, SEFF, strongly condemned this.
Their director said people were hurt by it and that celebrating terrorism has no place in sports. He said people tried to paint him as good. A politician, Gregory Campbell, also spoke out.
He criticized a lecturer who shared the banner’s image and wants Celtic and Glasgow University to act. He thinks silence implies approval. Celtic has not commented on the banner yet.