A crowdfunding appeal has been set up to assist Gary Kelly of All Under One Banner (AUOB) to mount a proper legal defence against the charges he is facing for his part in organising the successful march and rally for independence in Aberdeen on August 17.

Kelly is the second person to be charged with offences allegedly committed in connection with AUOB marches, with Manny Singh, formerly of AUOB and now with the Scottish Independence Movement, due for trial in Glasgow shortly.

AUOB state on the crowdfunding page: “Gary Kelly has been charged with alleged breach of conditions set for the AUOB Aberdeen march in 2019. We are raising funds to defend Gary.”

In just two days, the appeal has raised more than £1,800 from 105 supporters towards the target of £6,000, which is the estimated cost of defending the case.

The appeal organisers state: “Gary was the named organiser for the AUOB march in Aberdeen on Saturday 17 August 2019.

“Some time after the march, Gary was charged with the alleged breach of two of the conditions imposed on the march by Aberdeen City Council.”

Kelly has pleaded not guilty and wishes to engage a local solicitor.

The appeal adds: “Gary is concerned that the imposition of conditions like these on public demonstrations in Aberdeen is a restriction on his human right to freedom of assembly and association under Article 11 of the Human Rights Act.”