The Orange Order of Scotland has apologised to the Jewish community after photographs emerged of a fancy-dress party in one of its venues which show guests mocking the Holocaust.

The picture, of a group dressed as Adolf Hitler, Eva Braun and two child Holocaust victims wearing yellow stars, was taken at a Halloween party in 2013 at Airdrie and District Orange Hall in Scotland.

Ephraim Borowski, the director of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, said the photographs should be “condemned in the strongest terms”, saying the Holocaust is “not a joke”.

Robert McLean, the executive officer of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, distanced the Order from the photos, saying processes are now in place to prevent a similar incident happening again.

Mr McLean said: “I condemn those pictures and we would like to apologise to the Jewish community. I was shocked when I saw the pictures and found them totally distasteful.

“It should never have happened. If there is a police inquiry I would be happy to assist them.

“That photograph was taken four years ago, and since then we have taken steps to make sure it never happens again. Groups who wish to hire that hall have to sign an agreement saying that sort of behaviour will not take place.”

The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland is the official Scottish branch of the Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal organisation founded in County Armagh in Northern Ireland in 1795.

Named after the Dutch-born Protestant king William of Orange, members are known as ‘Orangemen’. The Scottish branch seeks to defend Protestantism, Britishness and unionism, opposing Scottish independence.

The photos were posted to the Whinhall True Blues Flute Band’s Facebook page, along with images of a Halloween party in 2010.

Another party-goer was dressed in blackface with an afro wig and a necklace fashioned from bones, while another pair appeared to mock the child abuse scandal in the Catholic clergy. The images have now been taken down.