Journalists from a Sunday newspaper which backed Scottish independence were ‘turned away’ from the official media enclosure at a pro-independence rally.

The Sunday Herald reported that its reporter and photographer were prevented from accessing the media area at a Hope Over Fear rally held in Glasgow.

The rally in George Square was organised by former MSP Tommy Sheridan and the paper claimed that other media organisations also had problems with entry to the enclosure.

Ironically the newspaper was the only one in Scotland to back Scottish independence when the referendum was held a year ago.

The Sunday Herald reported on being refused access to the rally’s media area.

In a report for the Sunday Herald, journalist Karin Goodwin said she was told that its previous coverage of stories involving Mr Sheridan had ‘not done us any favours’ when she was refused access.

Karin wrote that at least 1,500 people were at the rally and there were activities for children, showing it was designed to be an inclusive event.

She added: “But those working for the media were less welcome. Among an atmosphere of suspicion and fear of media bias, outlets including the BBC, the Sunday Herald, international agency Agence France Presse (AFP), Scottish picture agency Deadline and several freelance photographers were prevented from entering or asked to leave a barricaded enclosure set up around the stage by organisers.

“It is understood the photographers were asked to leave after an argument broke out with organisers, who were described as ‘very aggressive’ by one photographer.

“I approached organiser-designated security guards who stood by the steel barricades with clipboards, allowing those whose names were on a ‘guest list’ to enter, a surprising thing to see in a public square.

“I was told by organisers that I needed a pass to come in and speak to people; and then that speakers would be too ‘busy’ to come out.

“Those standing at the gates were helpful enough; they called over someone in-charge of ‘security’, who told me my name wasn’t on the list.

“I should, I was told, have requested permission weeks or even months ago to enter the area. Apparently reporting by Sunday Herald reporter Paul Hutcheon about Tommy Sheridan had ‘not done us any favours’.

Herald photographer Steward Attwood was also refused entry, meaning he could not get the shots he wanted.

He said: “It’s a public square. You can put a barricade round it but you can’t refuse entry.

“The shot I wanted to get was of the Saltires against the City Chamber but you couldn’t really get that unless you were in the front of the stage, which they had barricaded so unfortunately I couldn’t do that.”

A post by a Hope Over Fear representative on its Facebook page said that reporters and photographers had access to the stage area at the start of the event and all media had been encouraged to attend.

She added: “The Sunday Herald came to the stage area for access at some point in the morning.

“They, along with others were asked to return at lunchtime as we were dealing with problems with the screen, sound, and trying to find speakers who were due on the platform.

“The Sunday Herald chose to go away and tweet that they had been refused access which was not true. The stewards were alerted to this tweet by the public.

“The Sunday Herald returned later and didn’t get access to the stage area.

“The stewards made the right call in my opinion when the Herald returned as I can’t remember one positive story that the Sunday Herald has reported on for any Hope Over Fear events.”