PLANS are in motion for a national memorial dedicated to thousands of people who were killed after they were accused of witchcraft.

St Ninians former opencast coal mine near Kelty in Fife has been identified as a site for the monument.

It comes after Nicola Sturgeon made a formal apology to the more than 4000 people executed in Scotland between the 16th and 18th centuries under the Witchcraft Act of 1563. 

Elizabeth McMann, trustee of Remembering the Accused Witches of Scotland (Raws), said: “Having visited St Ninians, we believe this is an ideal place to put the much-desired memorial and it is especially relevant as a location given the major role that Fife played in pursuing those accused of witchcraft.

“We set out to get a pardon from the state, an apology from the church, and a memorial to commemorate the accused witches in Scotland, as well as those throughout the world."

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Members of Raws, as well as local councillors and company directors, visited the St Ninians on Thursday.

A health and leisure park development is being undertaken there by National Pride UK, which has given its full support for the national memorial to be built on the site.

Sara Kelly, co-founder of Raws, said the site had “immense potential to host such a memorial”.

“It fits in very much with our ethos of communities, the environment and that the people who we want to be remembered are in a respectful and beautiful place,” she said.

National Pride UK wants to build “an ecologically friendly and environmentally sensitive health, wellness and leisure destination”.

The proposals are set to be sent to planners at Fife Council soon, the company said.