Grand Orange Lodge loses appeal over Stonehaven parade ban

The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland has lost a court appeal over a decision to block a parade in Stonehaven.

The planned march involving about 200 people - which was to mark the opening of a new lodge in the area - was rejected by Aberdeenshire Council.

Some concerned residents said it would bring public disorder and force local shops and pubs to shut for the day.

After lengthy deliberations at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Friday, the Lodge's appeal against the ban was refused.

Organisers had previously said that, if they won the appeal, a "peaceful and respectful procession" would go ahead as planned on Saturday.

They maintained that there was "no threat whatsoever to public order from the Orange Lodge members within the procession".

Speaking outside court, an Orange Lodge spokesman said the decision was very disappointing and a "sad day for Scottish and civil liberties" and said the Lodge would now consider its legal position.

The spokesman told BBC Scotland News it would not unofficially march in Stonehaven on Saturday but members would go ahead with opening the new lodge and laying a wreath.

A statement from the Lodge 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."

The statement added that the Lodge had the right to demonstrate under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

"Today these rights have been trampled upon by this ludicrous decision," it said.

"Our parades do not pose any issue or threat whatsoever to anyone, and in no way are they intended to be contentious, but somehow, they appear to be for those who desire to go out of their way to be offended."

The vote to stop the event came as an online petition calling for the march to be cancelled received thousands of signatures.

Aberdeenshire Council's Kincardine and Mearns area committee decided unanimously on 5 March that the planned procession could not go ahead for safety reasons.

Councillors felt it would place an excessive burden on local policing.

Lawyers for the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland argued in court that blocking the march was a breach of human rights and domestic law.

They said the reasons for blocking the parade were "inadequate, unbalanced and lacked transparency".

The Lodge's legal team highlighted the view of Police Scotland, which said it would be able to police the parade despite having to cancel rest days and deploy other officers from across Scotland.

Lawyers also pointed to recent processions in Scotland on matters such as independence, abortion rights and the situation in the Middle East, arguing the Lodge also had the right to freedom of assembly.

It had been planned that the Pride of the Rock flute band from Dumbarton would lead the procession.