THE “concerned citizen” who started a petition against calling for the removal of a Scottish bagpiper mural has apologised for the "foolish" act.
As The National previously reported, the petition had been started by an anonymous member of the public who claimed that the mural was “provocative” and “hostile” to the Italian restaurant next door.
The mural, on tenements on the corner of Paisley Road West and Mosspark Boulevard in Glasgow’s Cardonald, showed a bagpiper, mountains, a stag, and a Highland cow.
While the petition to remove it only attracted a handful of signatures, there was a significant amount of media attention and public interest.
Earlier in the week, the owner of the neighbouring Italian restaurant Bella Vita, Mimmo Rossi, made clear he had no involvement in the petition – and said he actually quite liked it.
Rossi said: "This is all a lot of nonsense – I want to make it clear that we are not involved in any of this. I'm very, very angry about it.
"We actually fed the artist – he came in for lunch and to use the toilets, and he's a fantastic guy. We were delighted to know that he was doing the mural."
The petition, which was started on change.org by someone named only "concerned citizen", had read: "This mural feels hostile and provocative towards an Italian owned business that has proudly displayed an Italian flag outside its door for years.
"It is imposing a very narrow minded view of Scotland and a very stereotypical view which again, is not reflective at all of its surroundings."
Rossie reported the email said: “It is clear from the debate the petition (a joke petition) has prompted that most locals like this mural. I apologise for naming and dragging your business into the discussion. I should not have done that.
“I sincerely apologise to the staff and owners of Bella Vita for any inconvenience caused. I am mortified it has gained media attention. I will learn from this foolish act of immaturity.”
Rossi said: “The thing is, he started something that went viral. We need to explain ourselves to customers, they were concerned about us not being happy.
“We are a community restaurant and well known in the area.”
