New theory on baffling Stone of Destiny caper

Jul 2 2010 by Denis Brown, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A NEW conspiracy theory may explain the baffling case of a bungled attempt to steal the replica Stone of Destiny from Scone Palace.

In late April, palace staff and police were stumped following a bizarre overnight caper where crooks switched the replica with another fake.

Although intruders dumped the replica stone metres away from its plinth outside the Moot Hill chapel, they got clean away with a brass plaque.

It reads: “A replica of the stone upon which the Kings of Scots were crowned on Moot Hill until 1296 when Edward I took the stone to Westminster Abbey.”

At the time, a clearly bemused palace spokesman said he didn’t have a clue as to a possible motive.

“We’re just surprised that someone has tried to remove what is a 200kg stone that would have required at least four people to lift,” he said.

Tayside Police Detective Inspector Mike Pirie confirmed the puzzling case remained active and that the stone left by intruders had been examined by an archeologist and geologist.

“These experts confirmed it is a dense granite stone that would appear to have been obtained from a natural landscape rather than cut from a quarry,” he said.

"I can't comment on the actual investigation, which is still ongoing."

But a former Perthshire man – who declined to give his name in fear of incriminating himself – believes he knows the identity of the culprit, a man in his 30s he shared a Perth flat with two years ago.

One night, over a few pints, his flatmate told him a story that on face value sounded like a ripping yarn.

In 1998, the keen angler was fishing at the River Tay near Scone Palace when he accidentally unearthed part of a large stone.

“He was a bit puzzled by the size and shape of the stone, but covered it up again, going back later to have a better look at it and convinced himself it was the real Stone of Destiny,” said the 27-year-old source, who now lives in Wales.

“Over the years he often went back to examine it and only told a handful of people about it.

“I was sceptical, but he eventually took me down to have a look at it.

“I must admit I was a bit taken aback as I didn’t expect it to be so convincing.

“It was a big black shiny stone, uniform in shape. It wasn’t glowing like the entrance to the Stargate, but I was pretty intrigued.”

After conducting research, he agreed with his flatmate that despite the absence of steel handles, the unearthed stone might actually be the real deal.

As legend has it, monks hid the real stone in 1296, duping English troops with a fake that was then installed beneath Westminster Abbey’s crowning throne.

It now resides at Edinburgh Castle, although many believe the genuine Stone of Scone never left Scotland.

The former Perthshire man said he had contacted his old flatmate, who had indicated he was behind the attempted switch in April, apparently trying to restore the real stone to its rightful place.

However, an authority on the subject, former Perth Provost, Alex Murray, downplayed the claim, insisting that the real stone – repatriated by Scottish students in 1950 and substituted with a fake – was “quite safe”.

“It was previously at Dull Church near Aberfeldy and only two people knew where it was and I was one of them,” he said.

“There’s an interesting story attached to it but you will have to read that when my memoirs are published posthumously.”

A Scone Palace spokesman said Lord Stormont had declined to comment on the latest revelation.

“Lord Stormont feels it may prejudice any future court case,” he said.