Independence camp protesters lodge appeal against eviction

A group of independence campaigners who set up camp outside the Scottish Parliament has lodged an appeal against a court ruling in favour of their eviction.

Picture: Steven Taylor

The Indycamp group set up outside Holyrood in November 2015 and pledged to stay until Scotland gained independence, sparking a seven-month court battle as the parliament’s corporate body sought eviction.

Judge Lord Turnbull ruled in favour of the parliament last month and granted their petition to have the campers evicted.

The group lodged an appeal against his ruling at the Court of Session yesterday.

In a written judgement published on 27 July, Lord Turnbull found the ruling against the campaigners would not “deprive them of the essence” of their human rights.

The campaigners had argued at the Court of

Session in Edinburgh that eviction would infringe their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association.

Gerry Moynihan QC,

representing the Scottish Parliament, had argued the group had a right to protest but not to occupy land belonging to a third party either permanently or indeterminately.

A hearing has not yet been fixed for the appeal.

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