Irish PM cancels visit over sectarian fears

Mr Ahern is said to be disappointed by the move

The Irish Prime Minister has cancelled a private trip to Scotland amid security fears surrounding Sunday's Old Firm football match.

Mr Ahern had been due to unveil a memorial to victims of the Irish potato famine at the Catholic Carfin Grotto, near Glasgow, on Sunday.

The Taoiseach was also due to attend a league match between Celtic and Rangers before going to Lanarkshire for the unveiling.

But local Labour MP Frank Roy contacted Mr Ahern's office to say the Old Firm clash would see the police at full stretch, potentially undermining his security.

Mr Roy, whose Motherwell and Wishaw constituency covers Carfin Grotto, said he told the Irish Government the Taoiseach's arrival was badly timed.

Frank Roy: "Mr Ahern was badly advised"

He said: "One of the worst nights in my constituency for policing is the night of any Old Firm game, and quite frankly we don't need this as well.

"There was an Old Firm game last night and there could be some bad blood carried over to Sunday.

"I think it was totally unnecessary and totally inappropriate.

"I think Mr Ahern was badly advised and I told him I was very sorry that no-one from the Irish embassy contacted me to ask my advice.

"The Taoiseach would be most welcome in my constituency at any other time."

Mr Roy added: "I wouldn't even have a problem with the unveiling being on the morning of the game, but I do have a problem with it being after the final whistle in the dark."

'Very disappointed'

A spokeswoman for the Taoiseach confirmed that Mr Ahern had postponed the Lanarkshire trip.

She said: "He is very disappointed he can't go, but concerns were expressed about safety in the light of the fact that there was an Old Firm match on that day.

"It was felt it might be better to postpone the visit, but he still fully intends to go at a later date."

The Scottish Executive has insisted that Mr Ahern's visit was a private one and that there were no plans to send a minister to the event.

However, the Liberal Democrat MSP, Nicol Stephen, has described the decision as "pathetic".

He said that more needed to be done to rid Scotland of sectarian divisions.

Professor Tom Devine, head of the Irish and Scottish studies research institute at Aberdeen University, has voiced "incredulity" at the postponement.

He said that those in authority in Scotland were sending out a bad message about sectarianism.