Line of Duty star Martin Compston is filmed on stage alongside Celtic fans as they chant IRA song that ‘glorifies murdering terrorists’ in Las Vegas
- Martin Compston was seen singing along with fans to 1972 hit Beautiful Sunday
- However the lyrics had been changed to say ‘Irish Republican Army’ and ‘IRA’
- The video was recorded while Compston was on stage during Celtic fans event
- Event was North American Celtic Supporters Federation (NACSF) in Las Vegas
- Compston, a former footballer turned actor, is Scottish and a life-long Celtic fan
- However he today denied singing ‘IRA’ lyrics, insisting he was signing original
- Social media users have accused Compston of ‘glorifying murdering terrorists’
Line of Duty star Martin Compston has been filmed on stage singing with Celtic fans as they chant about the IRA.
The Scottish actor, famed for playing nice-guy anti-corruption detective Steve Arnott, was seen on video singing along with supporters as they chanted ‘I-R-A’ at the event in Las Vegas.
The incident took place while the 38-year-old was at the North American Celtic Supporters Federation (NACSF) in the US city – where he lives wife Tianna and their young son.
Compston, who is a life-long Celtic fan and who was a youth football star at Aberdeen, was filmed on stage with actor Gianni Capaldi as well as ex-Hoops midfielders Alan Thompson and Bobby Petta as fans chanted the song.
The video shows the men signing and dancing as audience members sing along to the tune of Daniel Boone’s 1972 hit Beautiful Sunday – which is regularly played at Celtic’s homeground Celtic Park.
Compston, who in the video is wearing last season’s Celtic away top, can be seen pointing in the air shouting as fans sing ‘Irish Republican Army. It’s the I-I-I-IRA.’
However Compston, a supporter of the SNP and who has been public in his support for Scottish independence, today denied he was singing about the IRA, insisting he kept to the original lyrics.
Line of Duty star Martin Compston (pictured right) has been filmed on stage singing with Celtic fans as they chant about the IRA
The Scottish actor (pictured right), famed for playing nice-guy anti-corruption detective Steve Arnott, was seen on video singing along with supporters as they chanted ‘I-R-A’ at the event in Las Vegas
Compston today denied he was singing about the IRA, insisting he kept to the original lyrics. Pictured: The actor shared a statement on Twitter
The video has been slammed by social media users for ‘glorifying murdering terrorists’.
What are the lyrics to the two songs?
The real lyrics to Daniel Boone’s 1972 hit Beautiful Sunday:
‘Hi hi hi, beautiful Sunday. This is my my my beautiful day
The Celtic fans’ IRA lyrics to the same tune:
‘We’re the I,I,I, Irish Republican Army. We’re the I,I,I,IRA’
It was estimated that, between 1969 and 1994, the IRA killed as many as 1,800 people – including approximately 600 civilians.
One Twitter user wrote: ”Imagine this was Rangers, the media/government would be all over it like a f***** rash.
Media commentator Jim Gamble, commenting on the video on Twitter wrote: ‘What an awful example.’
Another Twitter user wrote: ‘How long before Martin Compston releases a statement saying that he would never condone behaviour like that, was caught up in the moment, doesn’t know those songs and apologises to anyone and everyone that might have been offended? I’m going for 24 hours.’
However Compston today issued a statement via social media in which he denied signing the IRA lyrics.
He wrote: ‘Not best pleased to wake up to a story eight hours ahead of me before I’ve had a 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 the damage done to think this stuff is a laugh.
‘If people want to change the lyrics to a song that is sung at Celtic Park, weddings, Still game, wherever that’s up to them, I’m not the lyric police.
The Scottish actor, famed for playing nice-guy anti-corruption detective Steve Arnott (pictured), was seen on video singing along with supporters as they chanted ‘I-R-A’ at the event in Las Vegas
Compston, who is a life-long Celtic fan and who was a youth football star at Aberdeen, was filmed on stage with actor Gianni Capaldi as well as ex-Hoops midfielders Alan Thompson and Bobby Petta as fans chanted the song. Pictured: Compston recently played in Soccer Aid in aid of the UN children’s charity UNICEF
Why would Celtic fans sing about the IRA?
Glasgow-basic Celtic have a historic association with the people of Ireland and Scots of Irish descent, both of whom are mainly Roman Catholic.
They were formed by an Irish Catholic, Brother Walfrid, in 1887.
Meanwhile, fans of their city rivals, Rangers, Scottish or Northern Irish Protestant backgrounds and support Unionism in Ireland.
And this has led to sectarian violence between the two clubs.
Some supporters also use songs, chants and banners at matches to abuse or show support for the Protestant or Catholic religions and proclaim support for paramilitary groups such as the IRA and UVF.
Celtic have previously been fined by UEFA over pro-IRA songs, following an investigation in 2011.
Last year, Glasgow MSP James Dornan urged Celtic supporters to stop singing ‘chants of hate’ towards Kris Boyd after he was targeted with sectarian abuse.
‘If it was an IRA song and I was bobbing 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 that song and that’s what I was singing.’
In a later statement, released to the Scottish Sun, Compston said: ‘To be absolutely clear, I 100 per cent did not sing any IRA lyrics.
‘You will see from the footage, I actually pulled up and told others to stop when the words were being changed.
‘I’ve spent the last 5 years or my life working in Belfast and I’ve seen how people’s lives have been affected by sectarianism. I don’t take that lightly.
‘If people want to change lyrics to a famous song I cannot police them, despite my best efforts.
‘I was simply singing along to Daniel Boones’ Beautiful Sunday which is played at Celtic Park after every Sunday game.’
Compston, grew in Greenock, west Scotland and played youth football for Aberdeen.
After leaving school pursued a short-lived football career with his local side, before moving into acting.
Despite having no acting experience, Compston, described as a life-long Celtic fan, landed a role in Ken Roach’s film Sweet Sixteen, which became a cult classic.
He also starred in BBC’s Monarch of the Glen, before landing the part of DI Steve Arnott in smash hit series Line of Duty – which wrapped up last year after six seasons.
Alongside football, Compston has been vocal about his politics, and is a support of the Scottish National Party – and publicly supported Scottish independence.
Inside Martin Compston’s $420,000 Las Vegas Mansion: The Line Of Duty star (L) gives fans a glimpse into his stunning home where he enjoys beers by the outdoor pool with his bikini-clad wife Tianna (R)
Stunning: The Line Of Duty star bought the sprawling four-bed mansion in Nevada in 2019 for £300,000, after he relocated to the United States in 2019 with his wife
Wow: Martin and Tianna were keen to buy a house with a pool, and they lucked out with their mansion as it boasts a spa, and even a solar-heated swimming pool
Gorgeous: Inside, their home is incredibly spacious with their entryway sure to be a welcome site to guests with its bright open-plan design and spiral staircase
Relocation: Martin lives in Las Vegas because his wife Tianna is from there, and he recently said it makes sense, when he travels for work, for her to be near her family, especially after welcoming their first child last year
He currently lives in Las Vegas. He bought a sprawling four-bed mansion in Nevada in 2019 for $420,000 (£300,000), after he relocated to the United States in 2019 with his American wife, their baby boy, and their pet pitbull King
Compston and his wife married in 2016 at Mar Hall, Renfrewshire. Their son was born in 2020.
Compston is reported to have moved to Las Vegas as Tianna is from the city, and they now live two streets away from her mother.
Last week Compston was back in the UK as he played alongside the likes of alongside the likes of Usain Bolt, Patrice Evra, and Brazilian legend Cafu for World XI in Soccer Aid – against England XI.
The event was raising money for UNICEF – the UN’s agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.
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