Police leaflet residents for info on statue damage
POLICE are intensifying their search for the vandals who are continuing to chip away at the foundations of the Duke of Sutherland’s statue at the top of Ben Bhraggie, Golspie.
Northern Constabulary took the unusual step of leafleting every household in Golspie and the surrounding area on Wednesday in a fresh appeal for information.
Three corners of the massive plinth on which the 100ft statue stands are now understood to be exposed with the mortar holding stones at the fourth corner chipped away.
The attacks on the statue are being viewed as politically motivated, with the Duke an unpopular historical figure for the role he played in the Highland Clearances.
Owners of the statue, Sutherland Estates, have erected scaffolding poles at the three corners in a bid to shore it up, but concern is mounting locally that the attempt to topple the Duke might succeed.
The community appears to be split with some people for the removal of the statue and others adamant that it should remain.
The police leaflet states: "This leaflet is for all residents within Golspie and the surrounding area and we hope that it will give you an opportunity to let us know of any information you may have in relation to the damage being caused on Ben Bhraggie."
Householders have been asked to write down any information they may have on the bottom of the leaflet and place it in a dedicated box at the Highland Council’s Service Point on Golspie’s Main Street.
Alternatively, they can ring Dornoch Police Station on 01862 810222.
Dornoch based Inspector Ramsay Aitken said: "We decided to carry out a leaflet drop because we have not got anything through our normal channels so we thought we would try something different.
"It is a tool we have used before and we have previously leafleted households in Golspie on a specific issue, but it was only the one street we canvassed.
"We are really looking for locals to be our eyes and ears. They may have seen or heard something and thought nothing of it and it could be that wee bit of information that we need.
"We are also hoping the leaflets will reach people who work away and may not have read the newspaper or seen the television coverage of the statue and do not realise the severity of what is happening.
"Someone, somewhere knows something and we have to get that information. We are in it for the long game."
Inspector Aitken added: "There are varying views on it but we cannot enter into that debate. However, we do feel that if anything should happen to the statue, it would have a detrimental effect on the area. Whether you like it or loathe it, it is a landmark."
Golspie Community Council chairman Ian Miller made a trip to the top of Ben Bhraggie on New Year’s Day and was taken aback at the extent of the damage to the statue.
"Whoever is doing it are hell bent on getting it down," he said. "It is worrying, particularly the fact that it appears to be ongoing. People have reported seeing lights at the top of the hill on two nights last weekend.
"Most local people are really disgusted by this.
"Everyone who was at the top of the hill when I made the trip on New Year’s Day was visibly shocked at the damage.
"It needs to be there in order that people know what happened in the past."
