NF leader race case dropped

By Alison Shaw | Monday, 6 September 2004 | Click here for original article

Law chiefs have dropped a criminal case against the man behind the proposed National Front march in Aberdeen.

NF organiser Dave Macdonald had been due to stand trial today at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

He was accused of sending a distressing e-mail to the city council's chief executive Douglas Paterson.

The alleged offence was said to have been religiously aggravated and was denied by Macdonald, 36.

It had been claimed he carried out the offence last October at his home and at the Town House in the city's Broad Street.

Today the case was not called at the sheriff court and a spokesman for the Crown Office said: "I have been advised that this case was considered by Crown counsel and they decided there should be no proceedings taken."

The National Front plans a parade in Aberdeen on November 28. The city council's licensing committee has deferred a decision on the march and will reconsider the matter on October 25.

Union activists revealed last month they were considering applying to march at the same time as the National Front in an attempt to force a police objection.

Grampian Police had not raised a public order objection. No march has been held in city streets since 1977 without police permission.