Rangers fans have staged their own banner protest slamming Celtic supporters who honoured an IRA bomber.
It followed controversy over the Green Brigade’s tribute to Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane this week.
McFarlane, who died last Friday, 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.
But there was controversy when, hours after his funeral, some Celtic fans honoured McFarlane at the Hoops’ home clash with Aberdeen.
Their banner read “Óglach Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane”, with a second banner stating: “They said he was a rebel then, he’s a hero now”.
The banner at the Celtic game. Photo: X
Rangers fans hit back at last night’s Scottish Premiership clash against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Some held up their own banner which read: “He was a coward then and he’s a coward now. Rot in hell Brendan McFarlane.”
There have been calls for Police Scotland to investigate the banner at Celtic Park.
DUP MLA Phillip Brett, who has written to Celtic’s chief executive Michael Nicholson, the Scottish Football Association and Uefa, said Celtic must address the controversy.
“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.
Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane (Niall Carson/PA)
“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.”
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A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “No complaints have been received at this time.”
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 and the SPFL have been contacted for comment.
Watch: Funeral of Bik McFarlane takes place in Belfast
On Tuesday 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 attended McFarlane’s funeral in west Belfast.
McFarlane, originally from the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, died at the age of 74 after a short illness on Friday.
He was jailed 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 Gerry Kelly, now a Sinn Fein MLA, in the Netherlands.
In a graveside tribute, Mr Kelly said McFarlane went on to “throw himself into local politics and community work” following his release from prison in 1997.