Catholic QC warns of bigotry after split from UK

Paul McBride, QC, said independence could lead to “very serious consequences” for Catholics in Scotland and that the Catholic community could have “legitimate concerns” about the SNP’s flagship policy.

His comments, made during an interview with former MP George Galloway, were dismissed by a Labour MP as a “cack-handed” attempt to persuade Catholic voters to reject independence in the forthcoming referendum promised by the SNP.

Mr McBride voiced his concerns to Mr Galloway, who is writing a book about Celtic manager Neil Lennon. Mr McBride is Celtic’s legal representative. Mr Galloway’s book, Open Season: The Neil Lennon Story, chronicles the campaign waged against the Celtic manager last season when he was the victim of death threats and letter bombs.

Mr McBride, who was the victim of similar threats, warned of possible damage to “social cohesion and related matters” if voters backed independence in a referendum.

The QC, who is reported to be representing former Downing Street press chief Andy Coulson in the ongoing investigation into phone hacking, told The Scotsman: “People are anxious that if they vote for independence and then sectarianism isn’t tackled that there will be these very serious consequences. Under independence, if the issue wasn’t tackled, we would have our own parliament dealing with the issue with no influence from elsewhere. Then if the Scottish Parliament under independence was not prepared to address the issue, it could encourage an atmosphere where sectarianism could blossom.”

In the book, Mr McBride says: “I think there are legitimate concerns on the part of Scotland’s Catholic community that if Scotland were ever to become independent, and these prejudices remained as deep and wide as they evidently are, it could result in very serious consequences when it comes to social cohesion and related matters.

“We must not delude ourselves that this isn’t the most serious social issue in the country today. If we do, if we continue to treat it with the collective myopia it has been traditionally treated with, we will only succeed in failing future generations.”

However, Labour MSP Michael McMahon, a Catholic who opposes independence, said Mr McBride’s comments were “not very well thought out”.

He said: ”I believe that in the past, there was a genuine concern in the Catholic community about independence. About 15 or 20 years ago, you could have understood or identified with this, but I don’t believe you can say that now.”

He went on: “If it is an attempt to appeal to Scottish Catholics not to vote for independence, then it’s a very cack-handed strategy and is not very well thought out at all.

“As a Catholic, my fears about independence are not in this regard but are more about how Scotland would be weaker economically, socially and politically under independence.”

A leading Catholic academic said he understood why some Catholics feared their position would become worse in an independent Scotland.

Professor Patrick Reilly, professor of English literature at Glasgow University, said: “I know that some people feel safer being part of the UK, as they feel that England is more tolerant towards them than an independent Scotland might be.

“I can see why some people would take the view that Scotland would be more divided under independence, as some people might be concerned that the discrimination that used to exist against Catholics over jobs and housing could return.”

Mr McBride is quoted in the book as saying that Lennon had displayed “extraordinary courage” last season, continuing to manage the team “despite being forced to deal with a serious attempt on his life, being assaulted in the dugout, his family being threatened and having to live surrounded by security”.

He said: “I’ll never forget being at Celtic Park on the last home game of the season. The atmosphere was just unbelievable.

“In fact you’d think we’d just won the Champions League. It was an atmosphere of defiance and unity in the face of adversity, which was down to Neil Lennon and the courage he demonstrated.”

Mr Galloway said he was motivated to write the book because of what he called “the unprecedented campaign to drive the Celtic manager out of Scotland for no other reason than he is a proud Irish Catholic”.

He added: “If anybody thinks that Scotland is fit for independence, the events of last season should make them think again.”

However, SNP MSP Bob Doris claimed sectarianism would be tackled more effectively in an independent Scotland. Mr Doris, the convener of Holyrood’s cross-party group on equality, said: “Sectarianism will not be tolerated in modern Scotland, and after the events of last season, the Scottish Government, parliament, the clubs and police have come together to agree decisive action to eradicate it once and for all.”

Mr McBride has long been active in politics and in April 2009, in a high-profile move, he defected from the Scottish Labour Party to the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.

At the time, he said he decided to join the Tories after deciding they were the only ones who were serious about tackling the justice system.

Until then, he had been a lifelong Labour supporter.