Northern Ireland

Line of Duty actor denies taking part in 'sectarian singing' about IRA at Las Vegas Celtic FC event

Martin Compston at the Las Vegas gathering of Celtic fans on Tuesday. Picture: North American Celtic Supporters Federation Facebook
Martin Compston at the Las Vegas gathering of Celtic fans on Tuesday. Picture: North American Celtic Supporters Federation Facebook
By Paul Ainsworth

LINE of Duty star Martin Compston has denied taking part in sectarian singing after appearing on stage at an event in the US where members of the crowd can be heard chanting lyrics about the IRA.

The Scottish actor, who plays Inspector Steve Arnott in the BBC drama, was attending a North American Celtic Supporters Federation convention in Las Vegas on Wednesday when he joined revellers on stage as a crowd sang along to the 1972 hit Beautiful Sunday, by singer Daniel Boone.

The song is popular in Scotland and among Celtic fans, but in footage of the event shared yesterday on social media, some members of the crowd can be heard changing lyrics with references to the "Irish Republican Army" and chanting "IRA".

Others on the stage at the same time included fellow Scottish actor Gianni Capaldi and former Celtic players Alan Thompson and Bobby Petta.

There is no suggestion those on stage were singing lyrics relating to the IRA. However, the singing among some of those in the crowd was condemned by social media users.

The row prompted Mr Compston, a life-long fan of the Glasgow soccer club, to deny taking part in any glorification of the IRA.

The actor has also spoken publicly about sectarian abuse he has received online in the past.

Footage taken at the North American Celtic Supporters Federation convention in Las Vegas shows actor Martin Compston on stage as a crowd sings.
Footage taken at the North American Celtic Supporters Federation convention in Las Vegas shows actor Martin Compston on stage as a crowd sings.

In a statement posted to Twitter, the actor - who filmed Line of Duty in Belfast - said he was "not best pleased to wake up to a story 8 hours ahead of me before I've had the right to reply".

"Let me be absolutely clear, I unequivocally did not sing any sectarian songs. I've worked in Belfast too long to see damage done to think this stuff is a laugh. If people want to change lyrics to a song that's sung at Celtic Park, weddings...wherever that's up to them I'm not the lyric police," he said.

"If it was an IRA song and I was onstage bobbing along I would understand the story but I'm pretty sure Daniel Boone had nothing more than Beautiful Sundays in mind when he wrote the song and that's what I was singing."

The Irish News contacted the North American Celtic Supporters Federation for comment last night.