Inverness set for return of controversial Apprentice Boys of Derry Campsie Club parade organised by local members of Northern Ireland headquartered Protestant group
A controversial parade by a Northern Ireland headquartered Protestant group is to be repeated in Inverness on April 12.
Last year’s march by the Apprentice Boys of Derry - City of Inverness Campsie Club provoked social media anger, with a 6000-strong petition opposing Highland Council’s decision to sanction it.
It came in the wake of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland losing its appeal against Aberdeenshire Council's decision to ban 200 members from marching.
There were accusations that Highland Council had given its blessing to a ‘hate march’, a label the local branch of the Apprentice Boys’ Association strongly refutes.
Despite the adverse publicity, the Inverness march passed without incident.
We contacted a local representative of Inverness Campsie Club this week who insisted they were a peaceful and tolerant organisation which had staged the event in Inverness without trouble for 18 years.
Up to 300 people, including around 100 local members, will parade through the city, starting at 3pm on April 12 at Victoria Drive in Crown.
The marchers and their drums and whistles will make their way down through Eastgate to Bridge Street and along the riverside to Haugh Road for a wreath-laying at the Cavell Gardens War Memorial.
They will then retrace their route through the city centre, back to Crown.
Roddy McDonald (70), a founding member of the City of Inverness Campsie Club, stressed: “We have been holding the march every year for almost 20 years now. Next year will mark our 20th anniversary.
“There’s never been any problem or trouble at any of our parades. We organise a peaceful march like plenty of other organisations do.
“We don’t hate anybody. It is other people who seem to imply that we hate other people.
“Irrespective of what their colour or creed is, we don’t set out to offend anyone. We just want the same rights as any other citizen of this country.
“We have the march in April because it is around about the time of year we first opened the Inverness branch of the Apprentice Boys Club.
“Of course we commemorate the siege of Londonderry and remember the thousands who died of starvation behind the city walls.
“If you know your history, it was the longest siege on any British city.
“The Apprentice Boys is an organisation with members all over the world, not just in Scotland where there are dozens of associations.
“Most of our 100-plus members are local people.
“We respect the rights of other organisations and people to have peaceful marches and we go through the proper channels with the council and the police.
“Some people might want to see trouble stirred up, but we are certainly not of that frame of mind.”
