Stonehaven Orange walk banned as appeal rejected

An Orange walk will not go ahead in Stonehaven.

More than 200 members of the Orange Order planned to march from its new branch at the Town Hall to Dunnottar Church.

But following an appeal hearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Aberdeenshire Council has decided to ban the parade.

It comes after the plans were met with backlash by local residents and businesses.

In a petition against the march, Stonehaven resident Neil Young claimed it would “poison” Stonehaven’s peaceful environment.

He said: “We have seen too often elsewhere how Orange Order parades foment a threatening atmosphere and can spill over into violence and abuse.

“This intimidatory practice cannot be justified on the grounds of freedom of expression.

“We urge all within the local authority, and local political parties, to use their power and influence to prevent this event.

“Put the peace, unity and welfare of our community first.”

A statement from Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland said: “Regrettably, it appears that the threat of violence and intimidation won the day over human rights and civil liberties.

"Throughout Scotland, and further afield, there will be many who will be aghast at this undemocratic decision taken by the courts on this dark day for Scotland's civil liberties.

"In this recent campaign in Stonehaven, it was blatantly obvious that extreme Nationalist and Republican elements were at work, evident by the copy and paste comments in the objections to the council.

"This strategy, we contend, is a slippery slope on determining who can or cannot legally demonstrate dependent on their detractor's 'muscle', and becomes even more abhorrent when the courts agree with it in this blatant act of appeasement."

It added it would “urgently” discuss the possibility of mounting a further legal challenge.