Martin Compston has responded after footage emerged of him at Celtic Convention in which the crowd can be heard singing an IRA chant.
Punters at the Celtic fan event in Las Vegas were caught on camera singing 'Irish Republican Army' and 'IRA' along to Beautiful Sunday by Daniel Boone.
Clips of the event emerged online earlier on Thursday.
Line of Duty star Martin and fellow actor Gianni Capaldi appear on stage in the video alongside former Hoops players, Alan Thompson and Bobby Petta.
Hamilton-born Gianni made his Twitter profile private shortly after the footage emerged, according to the Daily Record.
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Greenock-born Martin, 38, took to social media to respond and said he 'is not the lyric police' and that he 'unequivocally did not sing any sectarian songs'.
A statement released just after 3.30pm on Thursday reads: “Let me be absolutely clear, I unequivocally did not sing any sectarian songs.
“I’ve worked in Belfast too long to see damage done to think this stuff is a laugh.
“If people want to change lyrics to a song that’s sung at Celtic Park, weddings, Still Game, wherever, that’s up to them.
“I’m not the lyric police."
The actor added: “If it was an IRA song and I was on stage bobbing along I would understand the story.
“But I’m pretty sure Daniel Boone had nothing more than Beautiful Sundays in mind when he wrote the song and that’s what I was singing.”
Capaldi, Compston and Thompson have been contacted by the Daily Record for further comment.
