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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Jane Corscadden & Michelle Cullen

Line of Duty star Martin Compston issues statement after viral Celtic fans video

Line of Duty star Martin Compston has issued a statement after a video of him went viral on social media.

The video is understood to have been taken at a Las Vegas hotel on Wednesday night as Celtic fans gathered for the annual North American Federation of Celtic Supporters Clubs conference.

Mr Compston, who is a club ambassador with Celtic, was filmed on stage in front of cheering fans alongside his fellow ambassador and actor Gianni Capaldi.

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The footage appears to show the Line of Duty actor joining in celebrations as Celtic fans sang a sectarian chant to the tune of the 1972 hit 'Beautiful Sunday' by Daniel Boone.

However, on Thursday, Mr Compston issued a statement on social media to deny the allegations, saying he "unequivocally did not sing any sectarian songs."

In a tweet, the actor said: "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 the 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.

"If it was an IRA song and I was on stage 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."

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