Scottish police have been urged to investigate after a banner honouring an IRA bomber was unfurled during a Celtic match.
The club’s Green Brigade held up the tribute to Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane at last night’s home game against Aberdeen.
McFarlane, who died last week, was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 1975 Bayardo Bar bombing which killed five people. He was also part of the Maze prison breakout in 1983.
Above the tribute, which included a photo and the words “Óglach Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane”, a second banner read: “They said he was a rebel then, he’s a hero now”.
Some fans used what appeared to be bin liners to form a black background around the banner.
Former Sinn Fein MP Elisha McCallion shared the image on her social media feed, adding: “This is why I love @CelticFC. It was my privilege to have known you Bik. Rest in peace my friend.” It was accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
However, the McFarlane banner drew anger after photos surfaced online. One branded it “sick, grotesque and deeply warped”.
DUP MLA Phillip Brett said he has written to Celtic’s chief executive Michael Nicholson, and copied the correspondence to the Scottish Football Association and Uefa, European football’s governing body.
He has also urged Police Scotland to investigate the matter under the Terrorism Act.
Mr Brett said that Celtic cannot turn a blind eye to the matter.
“That anyone with any sense of morality would seek to define such an individual as a hero is beyond comprehension, but given the display at their stadium, it is incumbent on Celtic Football Club to take immediate action,” he said.
Watch: Funeral of Bik McFarlane takes place in Belfast
“Those responsible for this disgraceful display must be identified, and Police Scotland should investigate the matter under the Terrorism Act 2006.
“The steps they take now will be a clear indication of how seriously they treat the hurt and offence caused to innocent victims of terror.
“I have written to Celtic Football Club to express my revulsion, and the revulsion of the wider community of the Shankill, at this display and to demand that firm action be taken.
“There can be no place in football, or in society, for the glorification of terrorism. We await evidence that Celtic Football Club will act decisively.”
DUP MP Gregory Campbell has tabled a motion in Parliament about the banner and a Scottish academic who shared the image online.
Mr Campbell said the banner had “caused great hurt and offence”.
“This was an abhorrent act that disrespects the memory of his innocent victims and causes deep hurt to those who suffered at the hands of terrorism,” he said.
Celtic FC, Police Scotland and the SPFL have been contacted for comment.
The row came hours after McFarlane’s funeral in Belfast, which was attended by senior republicans including former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, Donegal TD Pearse Doherty, North Belfast MP John Finucane and North Belfast MLA Caral Ni Chuilin.
Mr Adams was among those who took a turn at carrying the coffin, which was draped with an Irish flag, along the Cliftonville Road before it was transported by hearse to Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast.
McFarlane, originally from the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, died at the age of 74 after a short illness on Friday.
Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly delivered the graveside oration at Milltown Cemetery.
McFarlane was sent to Maze Prison after being convicted of the bomb attack on the Bayardo Bar off Belfast’s Shankill Road.
The victims were civilians Linda Boyle (19), Joanne McDowell (29), Samuel Gunning (55) and William Gracey (63), and UVF member Hugh Harris (21). Sixty others were injured.
McFarlane later became the officer in command of the H-Block prisoners during the 1981 hunger strike in the Maze.
In 1983, he was among 38 IRA inmates who fled the prison. They used smuggled guns and knives to overpower prison staff before hijacking a food lorry and driving to the main gate.
One prison officer died of a heart attack after being stabbed and six other officers were stabbed or shot during the escape.
McFarlane was later recaptured with Mr Kelly in the Netherlands.
Mr Kelly said McFarlane went on to “throw himself into local politics and community work” following his release from prison in 1997.