Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Line of Duty star Martin Compston denies singing IRA lyrics in viral video

‘Let me be absolutely clear, I unequivocally did not sing ANY sectarian songs,’ said actor

Ellie Harrison
Friday 17 June 2022 05:31 EDT
Comments
Actor Martin Compston appears to sing about the IRA

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Line of Duty star Martin Compston has denied accusations that he sang an IRA chant at a Celtic fan convention in the US.

A video shot in Las Vegas, that has since gone viral, captured the actor singing on a stage with former Celtic FC footballers Alan Thompson and Bobby Petta.

In the footage, people can be heard chanting “IRA” along to Daniel Boone’s 1972 song “Beautiful Sunday”, a track long-associated with the club.

Posting a tweet about the video on Thursday (16 June), Compston wrote: “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, Still Game, wherever, that’s up to them. I’m not the lyric police.”

He continued: “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.”

(Twitter)

He later posted screenshots of tweets from people criticising him, writing in the caption: “Example of the folk currently outraged on my timeline. Not interested in what happened just a chance to point to score on one of ‘them’. Can’t help themselves but.”

Compston, who is from Greenock in Glasgow, now lives in Las Vegas. He knows Belfast well because it’s where the BBC drama Line of Duty, in which he played DI Steve Arnott, was filmed.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in