Killeen hands back Grade 3B European Championship trophy

After discovering days later that they played without the minimum number of pipers at the 2012 European Pipe Band Championships, the Killeen Pipe Band of Armagh, Northern Ireland, voluntarily returned the trophy and prize-money to the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.

The band reportedly had the minimum eight pipers on the day, but played with seven, without officials or judges noticing. The prize was later awarded to Killeen.

After the situation was brought to light, the band held a meeting and elected to hand back the prize to the RSPBA, although according to a source close to the band who spoke on condition of anonymity said that no official complaint was made. At publication time, the RSPBA had not issued a statement about the matter or whether or not the returned prize was accepted.

Ballybriest, also of Northern Ireland, was announced second at the European Championships, but it is not known whether the trophy is being awarded to them.

While prizes have been rescinded by associations after discrepancies were discovered, it is not known whether a band has ever voluntarily returned an award after realizing its mistake.