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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stephen Stewart

Dissident Irish republican group to stage protest at Hampden ahead of Scotland vs Israel tie

A dissident Irish Republican group - linked to the murder of journalist Lyra McKee - will launch a protest tonight at Hampden ahead of the crunch Scotland match.

Members of New IRA political front party Saoradh will hold a rally at 6pm ahead of the Scotland v Israel match in Glasgow.

Activists were snapped with Palestinian flags and banners at the previous encounter between the teams last month.

They joined members from the Revolutionary Communist Group to demand the release of imprisoned Saoradh members and Palestinian activists.

Campaigners were out in force before the last crunch game in September (UGC)

A social media post advertising the demo said: “On 4 September, our flags, banners and chants of ‘your match is covered in Palestinian blood’ were heard and seen across TV coverage of the Scotland vs Israel nations league match.

"This time we want to make even more noise.

“Join us outside the Scotland vs Israel UEFA qualifier match.

"We will proceed as a group to protest in the car park outside the Main Stand of Hampden Park where there will be plenty of space for physical distancing.

“Bring your friends, placards, flags and megaphones to tell the racist state of Israel and its British imperialist backers to take their knee off Palestinians neck!

"We will again be showing solidarity with political prisoners.

"Free our Palestinian comrade Issam Hijjawi and the Saoradh 9! Victory to the hunger strike for dignity in Maghaberry and Portlaoise gaols!” 

The news comes after the Record last month revealed a video showing a squad from the Green Brigade supporters’ group joining with other demonstrators outside the National Stadium.

Saoradh is a self-styled “Revolutionary Irish Republican Party” founded in 2016 which has the backing of dissidents within the New IRA.

Its first press conference was attended by a number of known dissidents and there was a letter of support from prisoners serving sentences for terror offences in Northern Ireland.

The New IRA is believed to be responsible for the shooting death of journalist Lyra McKee while she observed a riot in Londonderry, also known as Derry, in April 2019.

At the last match, video footage showed a crowd of fans heading across the concourse as chants of ‘Palestine’ ring out.

Saoradh activists at the last Scotland v Israel game (UGC)

The protest was staged to support a call from Palestinian football players to boycott the match between the two nations.

In September, vandals plastered anti-Israeli graffiti outside Hampden Stadium.

Police launched a probe after red paint was splashed over a road leading into the ground with the words ‘Palestinian blood’ daubed on an overlooking wall.

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