Campaigners in last-ditch bid to halt Apprentice Boys parade
More than 4,800 people have signed a petition to stop the Apprentice Boys of Derry marching through Inverness on Saturday.
The last-minute objections are made as around 300 people are due to gather in the city centre for the parade with the Young Calvay Volunteer Flute Band.
The parade comes two months after residents of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire were successful in stopping an Orange Order march amid a widely-held belief that such an event had no natural home in the town.
The petition against the Inverness march was launched by Alasdair Marshall of Lairg, who said the Apprentice Boys of Derry’s traditions and music were “deeply rooted” in sectarianism and had a history of anti-catholic and anti-irish hostility.
William Moore, General Secretary of Apprentice Boys Of Derry, who is based in Northern Ireland, said the Inverness parades had been running for 15 years without incident.
He said: “There has never been trouble at the parade which consists of a few hundred members. The event creates very little disruption and concludes after a short walk through the city centre.
“The people who describe the parade as a hate march really need to review and examine their own level of tolerance and respect for other cultures and traditions. The parade is simply members of the association commemorating and celebrating their history and culture. A privilege our forefathers fought and died for, to ensure freedom of expression for everyone.
“As British citizens we uphold the freedoms won by our predecessors in many conflicts. The members of the Apprentice Boys will not meekly or cowardly walk away from those that wish to suppress that freedom, which enriches our birthright and cultural identity.”
Permission for the march was granted by council officers, in line with delegated powers policy, as opposed to elected councillors at committee level, as was the case in Aberdeenshire. The council said the application was advertised on its website, with the deadline for comments on February 5. Police and councillors raised no objection.
The parade is being organised by the City of Inverness Campsie Club, an associated club of The Apprentice Boys of Derry.
The Inverness club was set up in the name of Henry Campsie, who was wounded as he led 13 apprentices in closing the gates of Derry as Catholic troops acting for King James II/VII advanced in 1689.
The Campsie Club said it had recently opened a number of new branches, including one in East Lothian.
A spokesperson for Highland Council said: “This was not a committee decision. The notification process for the parade was dealt with according to the requirements of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and Highland Council’s scheme of delegation. Details of the parade route were sent to Police Scotland, roads, and local ward councillors for consultation and no objections were received.”
As British citizens we uphold the freedoms won by our predecessors in many conflicts William Moore