Police are appealing for information after a second attempt was made to topple the Duke of Sutherland’s statue near Golspie. The huge statue, known locally as The Mannie, stands on Ben Bhraggie and commemorates the duke who was responsible for some of the most notorious and cruel Highland Clearances in Sutherland.
Police say that stone on the plinth has recently been damaged and removed in places and they are appealing for further information. A Police spokesperson said that tools had been used, implying that the vandalism was planned. An earlier attempt was made to dynamite the controversial statue in 1994.
Ben Bhraggie (or Beinn a’ Bhragaidh to give the mountain its full Gaelic name) stands above Golspie and at 30 metres high is visible to anyone travelling up and down the coast for a long distance. The statue was erected following the duke’s death in 1833 and paid for by subscription from his remaining tenants. A full walk description for Ben Bhraggie including map and photos can be found on Walkhighlands.