Campaigners are calling for racist thugs to be barred from entering Scotland after recent disorder, with specific demands to stop Loyalist terror-linked activists from boarding ferries from Belfast.
Activists Linked to Loyalist Terror
The Daily Record revealed this week how UVF-linked bank robber Mark Sinclair and sectarian killer pal Glen Kane have become major anti-immigration voices via Sinclair's 'freedomdad' YouTube channel. The pair have been spotted at extremist protests in Glasgow, and anti-racist groups say they are part of a growing network of far-right groups in Scotland linked to Loyalist terror groups in Northern Ireland.
Now calls have been made for Sinclair, Kane, and other activists linked to Loyalist terror to be banned from taking the ferry from Belfast to Scotland.
Police Urged to Act at Ferry Terminals
Trade union activist John McDermott, who has been involved in attempts to oppose the rise in far-right extremism, urged police to stop them at the ferry terminals into Scotland if it is evident they are hell bent on trouble. McDermott suggested that Sinclair and Kane's reputations and past record of turning up at volatile and violent anti-immigration events should be justification enough to stop them from boarding boats.
He said: “We’ve enough troublemakers of our own to contend with without importing more from Northern Ireland. These men are well-known far right activists in Northern Ireland and they always appear to be present when violent disorder takes place.”
“We warned the police from the start of the far right protests in Scotland that they would be infiltrated by their friends from Northern Ireland, who can get here easily by boat. The police need to clamp down on these people before it gets worse.”
Existing Powers and Evidence
Mohammed Asif, of the Stand Up to Racism group, said police already have powers to stop people at ports if they believe they are set on causing trouble at their destination port. He said: “When we have people boarding ferries who have histories of causing trouble, it is reasonable for police to use existing powers to stop them from travelling.”
“I would not always be in support of police using such powers but I believe that there is very solid evidence in this case of individuals travelling to Scotland with the intention of whipping up trouble that could put people in danger.”
Background of Sinclair and Kane
Sinclair, 56, and Kane, 60, were photographed with other far right agitators in Belfast and posed in the aftermath of the “pogrom” that followed an alleged attack by a refugee on a Scottish man living in the city in June. Former BNP member Kane smiled for the camera after immigrant residents were burnt out of their homes. Other people who featured in photos alongside him were masked. Since then Sinclair has produced several videos from Glasgow, which suggest the city’s problems are largely down to immigration.
The ‘Unite the Clans’ demonstration on July 25 erupted in chaos at Glasgow Green, and police arrested 15 people during the day. Kane, 60, was convicted of the sectarian killing of Catholic Kieran Abram in July 1992 and, on his release from prison, adopted the nickname ‘Mr X’ in honour of his boyhood hero, Lenny Murphy, the notorious leader of the Shankill Butchers murder gang, who was later gunned down by the IRA.
In 2003, when Sinclair was jailed for 18 years for robbing three Clydesdale Bank branches in Troon, Stewarton and Dalbeattie, it was claimed the raids were linked to paramilitary activities in Northern Ireland. Sinclair has denied he and Kane had travelled to Glasgow with the intention of stirring up trouble. He told the court he was a former member of the UVF and claimed he had been sent to Scotland by members of the security services to spy on members of the UDA, a Loyalist terror group.
Sinclair assaulted four staff and a customer, brandishing a handgun, at the Stewarton raid. His gang stole a total of £13,000 during the bank robberies. He had three previous convictions for armed robbery. During his trial, Sinclair claimed he had been planted in Scotland by the UK’s security services to spy on the Loyalist terror group, the UDA.
After the Glasgow disturbances, Sinclair said: “Just because we are reporting the trouble which took place in Scotland doesn’t mean we supported it in any way. The protesters spilled out of the park on to the streets of Glasgow and they shouldn’t have done that, but we couldn’t do anything to stop them.”
The Unite the Clans demo was badged as an event to “Protect Our Women and Kids” but domestic abusers were prominent in their ranks. The Record highlighted Ryan Marshall, 37, who made Nazi salutes at the demo as a serial abuser of women. Another active far-right protester, Alan Miller, 26, was also unmasked as an abuser who attacked two of his partners and his mum. Police say 1700 people took part in the demos.
