POLICE PROBE PARADE FLAG

Police yesterday (Thursday) confirmed they were investigating complaints made about a UVF flag being carried through Stirling.

It is understood that the flag was being held aloft by an individual taking part in a Stirling Protestant Boys parade on Saturday, June 16.

The Observer was told by a source that police were made aware of the incident and it has now been confirmed that the matter is being investigated.

An image of the flag was posted on social media this week, prompting a debate over what it represented.

A number of people claimed it was a symbol of the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) group, formed in 1966, who undertook an armed campaign throughout the troubles in Northern Ireland.

This group is classified in the UK as a terrorist organisation, and they were responsible for more than 500 deaths.

However others said that the flag represents the original UVF movement founded in 1912 to fight against home rule. Many of their men joined the 36th (Ulster) Division of the British Army and fought on the Western Front during the First World War.

The name and symbols of the original organisation would later be adopted by the unionist paramilitary group, but there are no direct organisational links between the two.

The Stirling parade, at which the flag was believed to have made an appearance, was organised to mark the 15th anniversary of the Stirling Protestant Boys.

There were more than 20 bands from throughout Scotland taking part.