John Swinney has been accused of risking a spike in sectarian hatred by claiming people need to ‘move on’ from the Troubles.

Ex-Police Scotland superintendent Martin Gallagher said the First Minister’s pro-Sinn Fein stance could ‘open up serious issues’.

The former senior officer, who is also a terrorism expert, said the ‘roots of Sinn Fein’s disputes with the UK Government are manifestly different to those of the SNP’.

Mr Swinney has refused to apologise for saying his proposed Sinn Fein pact is justified because there was a need to ‘move on’ from the Troubles – prompting a backlash from victims of the IRA, as the party was historically the political wing of the Republican terror organisation.

The latest row comes as relatives of some of those killed by the IRA and campaigners prepare for a rally at the Scottish parliament tomorrow in protest at Mr Swinney’s comments.

Mr Gallagher said: ‘Any flirtation with Irish nationalism has the potential to open up serious issues for Scottish society, where sectarianism is always there, just below the surface.’ He said ‘many veterans – including some personal friends – would like to move on from the Troubles, too’ adding: ‘What is Mr Swinney’s opinion of them being afforded the same privilege?

‘As to engaging with Sinn Fein, Scottish involvement in Ireland/Northern Ireland has never gone well and my advice would be leave well alone.

 ‘My personal worry is that if there is Irish unification, many from the Loyalist community may decide to re-migrate to Scotland, in the same way as Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair [former leader of the Ulster Defence Association’s notorious C Company, who relocated to Ayrshire].

‘I wonder if Mr Swinney has factored that into his plans for the future and his desire to welcome immigration.’

Mr Gallagher’s book, Terror for Profit: A New Paradigm for Understanding Terrorism and Organized Crime, was published in 2024.

On Monday, Mr Swinney provoked fury by doubling down on his call for people to ‘move on’ from Sinn Fein’s IRA links so he can join forces with the Irish nationalists.

The First Minister said he had ‘no intention’ of apologising after being accused of insulting the families of Scots soldiers killed by the IRA.

He insisted that ‘a lot that has happened in the years since the Troubles came to an end with the Good Friday Agreement’.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: ‘John Swinney must listen to this stark intervention from a man who was one of Scotland’s most senior police officers.

‘He clearly feels Swinney’s remarks are not only grossly offensive to the families who had their lives destroyed by IRA terrorism but also risk fuelling hatred in Scotland.

‘The SNP leader needs to reflect on the anger and concern being felt by his remarks in relation to Sinn Fein and apologise urgently.

‘His doubling down only risks escalating this situation in communities where the scars of the Troubles still run deep.’

The SNP was contacted for comment.