Journalism is often about asking questions of those in power.
When your questions are not answered, then you might just have stumbled upon the only questions worth asking.
I sent this article to the leader of Glasgow City Council Mr Frank McAveety and the Council’s CEO
Ms Anne-Marie O’Donnell on December 9th.
I did so to elicit their views on this serious subject.
The latter’s office was good enough to get back to me saying that they would be in touch.
However, I have yet to hear from either of those two important personages.
At the same time, I sent a media inquiry to the chief press officer at the council.
Each email had this image attached.
Then six days ago on December 14th, I received this:
Hello Phil,
My manager XXXXX XXXXXX asked me to get in touch in respect of your article on safety at Ibrox Stadium.
I must apologise for the delay in responding. We’ve had problems with email at the start of the week, which delayed my receipt of your email and set me back on looking into this for you. So sorry for only getting back to you now.
In any case, here’s a statement in response to your article. Get back to me if you require anything further.
Regards,
A spokesman for the council said: “Ibrox Stadium has a safety certificate issued under the relevant legislation.
“As with any safety certificate holder, we have an on-going dialogue with Rangers regarding the repair and maintenance programme at their stadium.
“We have been provided with assurances by the club that the ground continues to meet the required safety standard for spectators.
“Stadium safety is ultimately the responsibility of the safety certificate holder.”
For info – ‘relevant legislation’ = Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975.
end
The following day (December 15th) I sent this reply:
Many thanks for the reply and please pass on my thanks to Chris Starrs. I wrote directly to the Leader of the Council and also to the Chief Executive.
The Chief Executive’s office was good enough to tell me they would reply in due course.
For the interests of accuracy, is yesterday’s reply from the Leader or the Chief Executive?
The reply did not address the central concern expressed in my article.
Therefore, I have these supplementary and specific questions:
(1) Has Glasgow City Council (GCC) and/or the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) been in discussion with The Rangers Football Club (TRFC) regarding the state of the roofs in three stands at Ibrox stadium and do these discussions continue?
(2) Has GCC and/or SAG been in discussions with TRFC about the club’s plans to install netting in the three stands and are these discussions ongoing?
Hello Phil,
I took your email to XXXXX to be a media inquiry and so responded as a spokesman for the council.
I wasn’t aware of any other correspondence you have directed to other offices of the council.
The statement I provided therefore puts across the position of Glasgow City Council as a whole, rather than that of any individual.
In response to your two questions, I would point you to the line in our statement that says:-
“As with any safety certificate holder, we have an on-going dialogue with Rangers regarding the repair and maintenance programme at their stadium. “
If there’s anything further then feel free to call.
Regards,
I sent back the following reply on the same day:
Dear
I was under the impression that XXXXX XXXXXX had communicated to you that I had written separately to the Leader of the Council Mr McAveety and the CEO Ms O’Donnell.
I did this because I keen to get their individual views on this story.
In the interests of accuracy are you stating that the City Council is refusing to answer my questions?
This is important as the section of your statement that you quoted in your mail does not address the specifics issues that I alluded to.
I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.
Regards
Since then two full business days have elapsed (Friday 16th and Monday 19th ), and I have not had a reply.
Perhaps they cannot give an answer because they are waiting for a response from the Sevco High Command.
My questions remain pertinent and in the Public Interest.
I haven’t gone away you know.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Knowing a few folk ‘in the know’, could one of the Celtic Park regulars ask Mr McAveety directly given he regularly takes his seat in the stand at home games?
Well done, Phil – Keep at them !!!
What I like is that it’s all written down.
Folk can waffle on when they’re talking… and even implausible things seem OK.
Not so with the written word – you’ve got them by the bollocks !!!
Keep at them – they don’t like it Up’Em !!!
Winter storm Barbara is picking up as I write this, so let’s hope the roofs hold out and nobody gets hurt. It will be interesting to hear the reaction from GCC and others, should there be an occurrence.
For the avoidance of doubt all is well at the big hoose and the only scheduled repairs are to reinforce the marble staircase and the floor of the blue room to support the weight of the treasure chest of overinvestment promised by that most real of real Rangers men, Mr Dave Cunningham King, who swept to power in a dynamic coup etc etc etc.
There has been a slight delay as the four year old institution hopes Red Bull might actually give the treasure chest wings so it can fly up the stairs and therefore allow the Petrofac Cup holders to redirect these ring fenced funds to pay the internet account in order to implement an online stratagem to regain their rightful place at the summit of intergalactic sport because that is their rightful place because they are the people and don’t do walking away etc etc etc.
Hope that clears everything up. Glad to be of help.
You would think a public body would answer a straight question of enquiry from a journalist. But not GCC this particular organisation is rotten to the core .
I don’t think the sevco command centre at taking this seriously enough and the fact that serious winds are due and the netting rumour along with the recent picture going around of a builders repair chute on the main stand there’s clearly a problem at the goat palace
Well done Phil, bit blowy today wonder if the roofs will be ok ……. squeaky bum time for all concerned???
Safety certificates can be reviewed if serious structural deficiencies come to light and if the roof is as suspect as they know, hence the need for netting to catch falling objects, then the council should be reviewing it right now. Failing to do so is a neglect of their duty.
We are all too familiar nowadays with Official Inquiries into disastrous loss of life . .
From railway and bridge disasters thru chemical factories . . to nuclear horrors . .
How many times do we hear that lessons will be learned and life safeguarded in future ?
All too often the finger is pointed at a distressed business which cut financial corners at the expense of health and safety . .
Glasgow city council should be well aware that in the age of the internet bampot there is a huge flashing neon finger hovering above the city chambers powered by thousands of mobile and laptop batterries . .there will be nowhere dark enough to hide if life or limb is endangered thru their dereliction of duty . .and hindsight is no longer a viable option thanks to a sometimes lonely voice in a journalistic wilderness. .
They were the people.
Silence can, indeed, be deafening no matter from what source it emanates. Shouldn’t Celtic’s Board be raising concerns about the safety of their supporters next week?
There are high winds, Storm Barbara, due in Glasgow over the next few days, and I expect the Broomloan Road stand will be rocking on Hogmanay.
There are genuine concerns on this issue, and I would hope that our Board, at least privately, is asking relevant questions.
Lest we forget….
Whiff_of_SPT_scandal_returns_to_City_Chambers_as_Bob_Wylie_appointed_special_adviser_to_McAveety
I am sure Mr Wylie will have no role in forming the response to Phil…..not a whiff of a RIFC connection could be construed.
He’s going to do a “jolly ” good job.
‘Aye, he’s a Rangers supporter but he’s a ‘true socialist’ and a great speaker’, was a phrase I heard often after Bob’s expansive speeches at Labour Party meetings throughout the 80’s, even from Tommy S himself, whenever I questioned Wylie’s endgame.
Happy to relate, I never was a good subject for hypnotists, snake charmers, or snakes, for that matter, but I do take a twisted, if ultimately sad, kind of pleasure in having been proven right that these men were not to be trusted, as Labour’s indyref treachery proved beyond all doubt.
Anyone who wants to be a politician shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near politics, as you know why their game is, and it’s definitely not about ‘Change’.
Unless it’s lying loose around your pocket.
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the update,you have them on the ropes,so make sure your shots hit home,every time.
This is all gonna come tumbling to the ground shortly,I mean the story of the cover-up,not the stadium.
Keep at them,you are thee only one that will.Or,for that matter,has the WILL to uncover the truth.No journos in Scotland,the best bigoted wee country in the World.With no viable journos.
Appreciated and melodic.HH
Well done Phil,
Unlikely you will receive any further correspondence due no doubt to the festive season.You have backed them into a corner and no one wants to put their name to the comment.King and co hope you desist and go away but in terms of public safety this is a show stopper and they know it.Some of the Celtic faithful attending the crumbledome will be suitably attired to accentuate the boards dereliction of duty.Lets see how much media comment they evoke.
This just sounds like the council are washing their hands and passing responsibility on to sevco to me they are responsible for the issuing of a safety certificate for roofs that are not safe passing the buck here won’t wash keep up the good journalism
Well done Phil if Glasgow City Council don’t respond and the unforgivable happens they won’t be able to shy away from it as you have constantly questioned them and posted about it the blood be on there hands as well as The Rangers ..totally disgusting and unprofessional by Glasgow City Council
Individuals and organisations who are aware of the situation must be keeping fingers and toes crossed hoping there is no incident with the Ibrox roofs. If there is, the enquiry judge will tear them all apart when they try to play pass the parcel with who knew what and when and did nothing. Do Frank McAveety and Ann-Marie O’Donnell (and others) realise their positions will become untenable if that happens?
is there any photographic evidence of the state of the roofs in the public domain…Surely engineers would be able to assess the likely risks
They should thank you personally for potentially keeping them out of jail but I wouldn’t be standing waiting in cold Donegal…..Methinks a lovely time of year to have ones feet held firmly to the fire!
Bad enough that the fans are put at risk here…..Spare a thought for the people who work there and the policemen , ambulance, firemen etc who will be there only to make a living .
If only they had someone to look out for their best interests, someone to ask the tough questions on their behalf…….A union perhaps
Keep at ’em Phil…..the whole thing stinks. Boycott ibrokes is my view. Celtic have played worldwide without any, or few, fans present.
We will sort them out with or without fans on Hogmanay. HH
Well done again Phil, you are one of only a very few who will get to the truth no matter what and if the truth doesn’t come out then you at least have done your job as a journalist. You are are taking on the people that Celtic supporters for years, have wanted to bring to boot and question and give a reason for their actions. You with your knowledge and contacts are able to make them uncomfortable and think before they do anything they shouldn’t be doing. Well done..