Line of Duty star Martin Compston has issued a strong statement denying he was singing 'an IRA song', after a video of himself singing with Celtic fans went viral on social media.
The actor, 38, has unequivocally denied singing "any sectarian songs" alongside fellow football supporters, after he was filmed on stage while fans allegedly chanted 'I-R-A' at an event in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.
It's believed Celtic fans had gathered for the annual North American Federation of Celtic Supporters Clubs conference when Martin appeared on stage with fellow ambassador and actor Gianni Capaldi.
The viral video shows the footy fans singing and dancing as members of the crowd sing along to the tune of Daniel Boone's 1972 hit Beautiful Sunday - which is regularly heard being sung at Celtic Park.
Following the footage gaining traction on social media, Scottish star Martin took to Twitter on Thursday afternoon to address controversy surrounding the song.
The tweet reads: "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."
The actor - who lives in Las Vegas - then went on to share screenshots of several abusive tweets he received in response to his original statement.
"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," the star captioned the responses to his followers.
In the video, the Inspector Steve Arnott actor can be seen wearing a 2021/2022 Celtic away shirt while singing on stage with a pint in his hand.
Alongside fellow actors and football players, Martin was filmed jumping around and singing on stage as fans in the audience threw their arms in the air.
Many in the huge crowd could be heard singing "Irish Republic Army" and "IRA" to the tune of Daniel Boone's 1972 hit Beautiful Sunday.
In an additional statement, shared with the Scottish Sun, Martin said: "To be absolutely clear, I 100 per cent did not sing any IRA lyrics.
"You will see from the footage, I actually pulled up and told others to stop when the words were being changed.
"I've spent the last 5 years or my life working in Belfast and I've seen how people's lives have been affected by sectarianism. I don't take that lightly.
"If people want to change lyrics to a famous song I cannot police them, despite my best efforts.
"I was simply singing along to Daniel Boones' Beautiful Sunday which is played at Celtic Park after every Sunday game."
The Mirror has approached representatives for Martin for comment.
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