Northern Ireland

Previous occasions where footage has emerged of sectarian chanting

Pro-IRA chanting was heard at the Wolfe Tones concert in August
Pro-IRA chanting was heard at the Wolfe Tones concert in August Pro-IRA chanting was heard at the Wolfe Tones concert in August

Read More: Video of Republic's women’s football team singing pro-IRA chant branded 'outrageous and utterly insensitive' to victims

THERE have been several previous occasions where footage has emerged of sectarian chanting.

In August, there were scenes of young people taking part in pro-IRA chants at a concert in west Belfast. During the Wolfe Tones gig to close Féile an Phobail, the band lead thousands of spectators in the singing of the lyric, “Oh, ah, up the Ra”. Larne footballer John Herron, who previously played for Celtic, was also pictured wearing an 'up the Ra' t-shirt at the concert.

Read more:The Wolfe Tones and Celtic Symphony: Why is the song contentious?

Former Larne FC player John Herron was pictured wearing a Pro-IRA t-shirt
Former Larne FC player John Herron was pictured wearing a Pro-IRA t-shirt Former Larne FC player John Herron was pictured wearing a Pro-IRA t-shirt

In June, there was outrage after a video showing people mocking the death of Co Tyrone woman Michaela McAreavey surfaced online. The 30-second clip, which appeared to have been recorded in an Orange Order hall in Dundonald, made reference to Mrs McAreavey being murdered in Mauritius while on her honeymoon. The song mocked Mrs McAreavey's husband John.

Meanwhile, some Armagh camogie players were filmed in December 2020 as they celebrated their All-Ireland Junior Championship win. The footage showed people apparently chanting "Ooh ah, up the Ra". The Armagh Camogie Board said at the time it "sincerely and deeply" regretted any offence.

A football club was also forced to apologise in March 2019 over a video appearing to show Northern Ireland supporters singing a sectarian song. The 20-second video showed some people in Northern Ireland replica shirts singing "we hate Catholics, we hate Roman Catholics" to the tune of Tiffany's I Think We're Alone Now. It is believed to have been recorded in a Belfast bar as Northern Ireland played Belarus in a European Championship qualifier. The IFA was quick to condemn the video and said it would ban those involved.

Some Tyrone GAA players were videoed singing a rebel song during a band parade in July 2019. The senior team was returning home from a win over Cavan in Clones, Co Monaghan when the parade passed their bus in the border village of Aughnacloy.

Some of the players can be heard singing Come Out Ye Black And Tans, a song about the notorious force of mainly ex-soldiers recruited to support the Royal Irish Constabulary during the War of Independence.