UPDATE: Marching on - The Apprentice Boys of Derry refuse to bow to public pressure against Inverness parade
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A controversial Apprentice Boys of Derry parade planned for Inverness is set to go ahead as planned tomorrow.
An estimated 300 people are expected to congregate in the city centre to join a march organised by the City of Inverness Campsie Club, associated members of the broader Northern Ireland-based organisation.
It will bring a number of temporary road closures in the city between 2.45 pm and 4.30 pm, with streets including Victoria Drive, Crown Drive, Crown Road, Eastgate, High Street, Bridge Street, Castle Road, Ness Bank and Cavell Gardens, Haugh Road affected.
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Last month, the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland lost a court appeal over an Aberdeenshire Council decision to block a parade in Stonehaven.
The Apprentice Boys of Derry, which views itself as distinct from the Orange Order, has organised such marches in the Highland capital for 15 years.
But Highland Council’s approval of the latest march provoked a storm of criticism on social media, including allegations that the protestant event was a “hate march”.
The Apprentice Boys of Derry have defended their right to march in Inverness, which has no longstanding tradition of such events.
William Moore, general secretary of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, confirmed the event would go ahead against public pressure, while a Highland Council spokesman said: “We are not aware of any change and the march is due to go ahead as planned.”
