CORONATION revellers appeared to sing about being “up to our knees in Fenian blood” during an event held by a royalist flute band.
The event, which took place in Coppies Bar in Armadale, West Lothian on Saturday, May 6, featured a performance by the singer Chris Dee who appeared to pause at key moments in a medley of loyalist songs, including Billy Boys and the Rangers anthem Follow Follow.
Dee appeared to stop singing at points in both songs, in the former the audience was heard to fill in with the line “fuck the Pope and the Vatican” and in the latter with the words “Fenian blood”.
A video of the incident was circulated by a Twitter account under the name Mairtín MacG with the caption: “I'm sure the King would be proud of this Coronation celebration. F#ck the Pope and Virgin Mary [sic] and a round of up to their knees in Fenian blood. Nice to see young children in such a friendly atmosphere.”
The National has attempted to contact the account for further comment.
Steven McCutcheon told this paper the video – the authenticity of which he disputes – had been stolen from his partner’s TikTok account and that he had reported this to the platform and to Twitter.
He said he had attended the event briefly and was not present for Dee’s performance.
McCutcheon added that his partner had deleted the original video but said in the original version he had not heard people singing the offending lines.
He said: “It’s nothing to do with Chris Dee what people sing, he just sings what he sings – if people put their own words into it, that’s nothing to do with the singer.
“At the end of the day I don’t understand you can put the blame onto Chris Dee and also the band regarding some people who basically sing the incorrect words.”
The event, which was billed as a “family coronation celebration” had been organised by the Armadale Flute Band.
Asked why Dee stopped singing at the offensive lines, McCutcheon added: “That’s what he does normally because you would need to take other breaths and that.
“Every time I’ve heard him he does [stop at those points].”
Dee and Coppies Bar were approached for comment.
