The ash cloud also happened in late April / early May at a time when the Summer program wasn’t in full swing so there was extra parking stands anyway as well as extra stands available due to many cancellations by other airlines. Not once that I can remember were any aircraft parked in Taxiways or run up areas. I’m fairly sure the airport will have various heath and safety regulations as well as potential insurance issues that go against parking anywhere other than designated parking stands other than in exceptional circumstances.
On Thursday night / Fri morning there wasn’t a spare parking stand in sight thanks to the extra business jets, the Stobart that didn’t return to ORK due weather, the extra BA night stopper at the moment and the EZY TLV-MAN diversion that came in the early hours!