Rangers supporters who indulged in celebrations in George Square earlier this month reportedly cost Glasgow City Council in the region of £60,000 to clean-up and repair.
Thousands of Gers fans converged on the city centre on May 15 after Steven Gerrard and his squad were officially handed the Premiership trophy, with ugly scenes and clashes with riot police following later in the day, with the events slammed by various members of the Scottish Government.
Pictures soon circulated on social media showing the state George Square was left in once fans had dispersed, with litter and broken bottles strewn across the street, as well as damage to several statues.
And now the clean-up cost of the events has been revealed, with the eventual total set to exceed the £60,000 mark.
A Glasgow City Council spokesperson was quoted as saying this afternoon: “The cost of the clear-up now stands at £58k, but this excludes the cost of the repairs to the statues, which are still to be determined.
"A substantial clear-up operation was required in George Square following the events of May 15.
“A huge amount of rubbish was lifted, glass from thousands of broken bottles removed and substantial amounts of graffiti cleaned away.
“Hundreds of plants were also destroyed, scaffolding and traffic lights damaged, benches and security fences broken beyond repair and lighting for the Sir Walter Scott column smashed up.
“In the immediate aftermath of the events of May 15, we deployed some 80 members of staff to undertake an initial clear-up and they worked throughout that first night to put the square back in some kind of order for the rest of the city.
“But work continued throughout the following week and has still to conclude.
“We have also checked all the statues in the square and found that the statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert require significant repairs.
“The Queen Victoria statue failed a topple test and is now fenced off to protect it from any further damage.
“These two statues are priceless sculptures that are emblematic of Glasgow’s proud history and will now require skilled restoration work.
“Those responsible for trashing George Square on May 15 have dumped a massive bill on Glasgow and then simply walked away.
“The complete lack of regard and respect they showed for Glasgow’s main civic space on May 15 is a source of deep dismay and disappointment.”
