A PAISLEY pub has been stripped of its outdoor licence after complaints about football fans singing pro-IRA chants.

Revellers at O’Connors Irish Bar in St James’ Street were filmed belting out the words of ‘Sean South of Garryowen’ by a disgruntled neighbour.

Chantel Ng reported the pub to Renfrewshire Council’s Licensing Board after customers were regularly spilling out of the backdoor and making excessive noise in a makeshift beer garden.

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The woman has been fighting for the back court area of the pub and flats to be restored as a drying green, rather than an area for football fans to congregate on matchdays.

On one occasion on May 6, she was the subject of racial abuse as one middle-aged man in a Celtic top could be seen calling her a “f***ing stupid cow” and asking “excuse me, have you got a visa?”

Another man was spotted climbing a wall up to her flat window and waving, which Ms Ng said she found “intimidating”.

The board met yesterday to review footage from Ms Ng’s mobile phone, which had been recorded on several occasions between March and May of this year.

Representing licence holder Sharon O’Connor, solicitor John Armit claimed Ms Ng had acted in a provocative manner by filming the customers.

He said: “Ms Ng was well aware there was a pub on the ground floor when she acquired the flat.

“I can tell you the couple who were indulging in racist language, they have been barred.

The Gazette:

Cllr Kevin Montgomery was concerned about the prospect of pro-IRA songs. 

“Bad behaviour at certain points has been a result of provocation from Ms Ng. Whether it’s illegal or not, it (being filmed) is creepy.

“When they weren’t being provoked, they were getting on with their business, chanting, drinking and playing dominoes.”

Councillor Kevin Montgomery asked Ms O’Connor’s representation: “Do you accept there’s a potential risk to public order of singing pro-IRA songs?”

However, Mr Armitt played down the prospect of the song Sean South of Garryowen being provocative.

He said: “When I was in Northern Ireland I sang Sean South and I sang the Sash. I sang songs on both sides. That was in ’68, before the troubles.”

When asked for input on the potentially sectarian nature of the song, a representative from Police Scotland said: “In my mind that could be seen as offensive to members of the public.”

Board convener Andy Steel expressed concern over the beer garden and whether the way it was organised promoted public safety.

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He said: “The layout doesn’t seem to be entirely satisfactory. There’s loose fencing. The layout gives me concern.

“Your client didn’t want to invest in the infrastructure of this beer garden but it was open all this time.”

The board then moved to remove the premises’ facility for outdoor drinking.