The younger brother of the Wrexham midfielder James McClean is the subject of an investigation by his football club after seeming to attend a dissident republican parade linked to the new IRA in Derry, in Northern Ireland.
Images of Patrick McClean, who plays for Galentoran in the Premier Nifl, Easter Monday was widely broadcast online, which apparently shows him to pass a masked party by making his Creggan path to release Derry Corner in the Bogso.
It would seem that up to 200 people – many young people – participated in the parade with the majority with paramilitary style clothes, contravening a decision of the parades commission. Several petrol bombs and fireworks were launched on the police also monitoring the parade of the Derry walls and part of the city wall has now been closed to the public.
The images of McClean, a 28 -year -old defender, shows him bearing a black hooded sweatshirt.
After traffic, Galentoran published on Tuesday evening a declaration confirming that an internal exam is underway and that they wish to remain an inclusive club for all different horizons.
“The Galentoran Football Club is aware of the images involving one of our players currently traveling online,” they wrote.
Patrick McClean is the subject of a survey by his football club after being spotted during a new parade Ira where the petrol bombers attacked the police
McClean illustrated alongside his older brother James – who is currently playing for Wrexham
The defender of Glentoran McClean poses for a photo with his partner Anna Monahan
“The club is fully determined to maintain a respectful, inclusive and welcoming environment for all players, staff, supporters and the community in the broad sense.
“The case is being examined internally in accordance with club policies and no other comments will be made for the moment.”
The annual parade in Derry marks Easter against British domination in Dublin in 1916.
The dissident republican event sparked similar violence scenes in previous years.
In a change of approach compared to the recent years, the organizers of the parade – the National Committee for Republican Commemoration – had applied to the commission of parades for the permission of the Easter Monday event.
In its determination, allowing the march to proceed, the commission explicitly prohibited the wearing of clothing and flags of paramilitary style linked to proscribed organizations.
Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney, commander of the Derry City region and Strabane, described the involvement of young people a “totally shameful” attempt to distract and masked shield of individuals.
“Despite the claim of the organizers of the Easter Monday parade today who said they wanted to have a dignified commemoration, what we saw was the complete opposite,” she said.
It seems that up to 200 people participated in the Easter Monday parade, the majority with paramilitary style clothes
Several petrol bombs and fireworks have been launched on the police monitoring the Derry wall parade
Many young people were present when the parade made his Conggan path to Free Derry Corner in the Bogsoid
The chief superintendent Gillian Kearney described the involvement of young people a “totally shameful” attempt to distract and protect masked individuals
“From the start of the parade until it dispersed, we saw masked individuals, which we think at this moment as a violation of the determination of the parades commission.
“While these masked individuals were heading for the dispersal point on Lecky Road, a disorder developed in the Naile Row area from 2:50 p.m.
“Fuel bombs, fireworks and masonry were launched, which led to the closure of Bishop Street (without) nearby for public security reasons.
“The members of the public were diverted from this area of the city walls.
“This disorder involving young people has been orchestrated. We have no doubt about it.
“ The young people were shamelessly and deliberately used to try to distract and protect the masked individuals when they covered themselves in a Gazebo after the parade in the area of Place de St Joseph to change their parade clothes.
“This is the criminal exploitation of children. It is quite shameful.
