A druid who went to the High Court to try to
stop researchers examining ancient human remains found at Stonehenge has
failed in his legal bid.
King Arthur Pendragon wanted the remains found in 2008 to be reburied immediately.
He was fighting a Ministry of Justice decision allowing
scientists at Sheffield University to analyse the samples for five more
years.
His bid was rejected at a High Court hearing in London.
Mr Justice Wyn Williams refused to give Mr Pendragon
permission to launch a judicial review action, ruling that there was
insufficient evidence to show that the Ministry of Justice might have
acted unreasonably.
Former soldier Mr Pendragon, 57, who changed his name by deed
poll, was dressed in white druid robes and represented himself at the
hearing.
'Day of action'
The cremated remains of more than 40 bodies, thought to be at
least 5,000 years old, were removed from a burial site at Stonehenge in
2008 and ministers gave permission to allow the bones to be examined at
Sheffield University until 2015.
Mr Pendragon told the judge that the bones were remains of
members of the "royal line" or "priest caste" who could have been the
"founding fathers of this great nation".
He said he did not believe the bones would ever be returned
to the site, and that his views were not being taken into account. His
allegations were denied by the Ministry of Justice.
Talking prior to the hearing, Mr Pendragon said: "If we don't
get them to, force them to, put them back, they're going to end up in
Salisbury museum. I know that for a fact, and I'm not prepared to stand around and wait for them to come up with other excuses."
After the hearing, Mr Pendragon, who signed himself as Arthur
Rex on court papers, vowed to continue his fight to have the remains
reburied.