Riot police would have been deployed to combat a major counter-protest if an Orange march went past St Alphonsus’ Church this weekend.

Superintendent John McBride made the claim as he revealed that five times as many specialist officers than normal would have been drawn from all over Scotland to police the parade.

It came as online groups threatened to defend the church, in Calton, following ugly scenes on July 7 when Canon Tom White was allegedly attacked during the annual Boyne march.

Glasgow City Council’s public processions committee has banned the Orange Order from walking past the church this Saturday.

And Superintendent McBride said: “I welcome the decision by the public processions committee and I’m glad they took into account my views.”

Read more: Orange Order refuse to re-route parade away from church forcing council to impose new route

Earlier he told members of the committee that intelligence had led him to believe there was the potential for nasty scenes if the Orange Order were to walk down Stevenson Street on Saturday.

He said: “Police Scotland are not asking that this particular route is never used again.

“The intelligence does indicate that there is a request from a group who has called for ‘any other like-minded individuals’ to attend. It invites certain elements of society who potentially see this as an opportunity to cause disorder.

“If this parade was allowed to go ahead it would be specially trained public processions officers. In your mind's eye think of riot police without the helmets. They would ensure that any unsavoury element of protest or counter-protest would lead to disorder. It would be at least five times the usual number of officers.”

Ronnie Convery, representing the Archdiocese of Glasgow said: “On Saturday St Alphonsus’ will be open for prayer and religious services just as it was a month ago when clergy suffered shameful violence and intimidation. People are afraid.

“The police report highlighted tensions in the area and on social media. These tensions have ramped up in the last 24 hours. The potential for public disorder is extremely high.

“We want to live in peace. Our people must feel secure. The city of Glasgow has 1000 streets on which a march could take place. Only 50 have a Catholic church.

“While we all respect the rights of people to march and demonstrate those rights cannot be seen in isolation. They cannot be exercised come hell or high water.”

Read more: Orange Order refuse to re-route parade away from church forcing council to impose new route

James G MacLean, representing the Orange Order, hit out at the events of July 7 but questioned the need to ban the parade going past the church this weekend.

He added: “We have a number of concerns with the suggestion that the parade be re-routed because it happens to be on the route of a particular roman catholic church. We’ve already made it clear that we deplore the obscenity that took place previously.

“St Alphonsus’ Church has never been attacked by an Orange march and I don’t think there is any danger of that happening. It is an entirely peaceful Christian organisation which condemns thuggery and does not in any way support violence or any attack on clergy or people of different faiths.”

Committee members unanimously agreed to stop the march going past the church this weekend but insisted that this isn’t a blanket ban.

Ken Andrew, who chaired the committee, said: “This should be in no way read that the orange order is responsible for the incident involving Canon White.”