Protester admits damaging Stone of Destiny case

A protester has admitted damaging a case displaying the Stone of Destiny at Edinburgh Castle.

Joe Madden pled guilty to damaging the cabinet in the crown jewels room by hitting it with a rock, hammer, chisel and several other implements on 15 November last year.

Environmental activist group This is Rigged claimed responsibility for the incident, which involved three people in a protest demanding supermarkets reduced the price of baby milk and the Scottish government fund food hubs.

Madden, 22, admitted causing damage to the cabinet with two others at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, but had a not guilty plea to a further charge of breaching the peace on the same day accepted by the crown.

Two other activists were sentenced to unpaid work at the same court during a separate hearing earlier this month.

Jamie Priest, 26, and Catriona Roberts, 22, also admittedly maliciously causing damage.

Priest was sentenced to 120 hours of work, while Roberts received 180 hours.

On the day of the incident, the court heard a tour guide had been taking a group of about 10 people through the crown jewels room when they heard someone shout: "This is a peaceful protest".

At that point, the guide turned to see Madden standing in front of the cabinet with "various items" in his possession.

The guide pressed her panic button, which prevented further groups from entering the room.

She said she saw Madden holding a brick or stone, and attempting to smash the cabinet – which also contained the Scottish crown.

The guide told the court she then saw black spray paint being sprayed on to the cabinet.

Police were later called to the castle.

The court heard the cost of the damage was about £2,798.

Sheriff Kenneth Campbell adjourned the case until next month while he awaited background reports.

Madden will return to court for sentencing on 23 January.

The Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, was used as the inauguration seat of Scottish monarchs for several centuries before being captured by King Edward I of England and taken to London in 1296.

It remained there until 1950 when it was taken back to Scotland by a group of students, but was later returned to London.

The Stone was formally given back to Scotland in 1996 and remained in Edinburgh Castle until March of this year.

It now sits at the centre of a new £27m museum development in Perth.