While tens of thousands took to the streets to celebrate the Olympic torch relay’s arrival in Courier country this week, an Edzell pensioner kept his promise to protest the event’s “Nazi” origins prompting a second brush with the law.
Dave Coull distributed 100 leaflets condemning the relay as it passed through Montrose on Tuesday morning.
His pamphlet said the relay was a Nazi invention aimed at promoting the “glorious leadership” of the State and that this remained its purpose.
As he distributed the leaflets, his wife, Keri, held a sign which cited the Nazi-inspired background of the relay and criticising David Cameron.
Mr Coull (70) had received a visit from the police after they saw a letter he wrote to The Courier announcing his protest plan. He told how he laughed at the idea he could pose any threat.
After staging his protest, he claimed it had been a success.
He said: “I’m happy that I’ve done what I said I would do and tried to inform people about the relay. I thought people ought to know, although they cheered the relay anyway.”
Mr Coull said the police had allowed him to carry out his peaceful protest but that he was stopped by a marked police car later in Dundee.
“The officer quizzed me about what I was planning to do in Dundee and I asked him why he wanted to know that. He said it was because I’d stated my intentions to protest the torch relay in The Courier.”
After explaining he had already made his protest, Mr Coull was allowed to go his way.
“I thought the police stopping me was a bit over the top,” he added.