Video: Bagpipes used to drown out Scots hate preacher

A young bagpiper has put his instrument to good use - by drowning out a hate preacher in Scotland.
The man is confronted by the young bagpiper as the police arrive. Picture: ContributedThe man is confronted by the young bagpiper as the police arrive. Picture: Contributed
The man is confronted by the young bagpiper as the police arrive. Picture: Contributed

Daniel Boyle, 14, played Scotland the Brave to drown out the man whose anti-gay ranting was angering people in nearby cafes and bars in Market Street, St Andrews on Saturday.

Less than 24 hours after the footage was posted online it had clocked up more than 2.4 million hits.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A crowd cheered as the schoolboy’s music overpowered the preacher, who was shouting through a small amplifier.

He said: “People were trying to get him to be quiet. I had my bagpipes in my dad’s car and someone suggested drowning him out so I got them and started playing.

“There was a crowd of about 200 people and everyone started cheering. Everyone started cheering. It was great.”

Daniel, of Bathgate, West Lothian, and his dad Matthew had stopped off in the town centre on their way home to the family caravan at Kinkell Braes and customers at the Keys Bar were complaining about the hollering.

Locals said it was difficult to hear what the preacher was saying but that his tone was aggressive and was ruining the atmosphere.

A member of the public had already reported him to the police and at the end of the video a police van pulls up and an officer talks to him.

Proud Matthew was amazed at the reaction to the film online and said: “I can’t believe the power of the internet.

“Daniel is certainly the patron of St Andrews.”

The scene was caught on camera by Lachie Blair, who said the piper won the battle “in the most Scottish way possible”.Police Scotland confirmed that officers were called to Market Street at around 3.30pm on Saturday to respond to a noise complaint.

A spokesman said: “Officers attended and quickly resolved the matter with no arrests made.”

Related topics: