Press Releases & Updates 2001

There were 15 people pleading from the Big Blockade. They all did this by letter. Three people pled guilty because they had left or were leaving the country. All were fined £150. One was continued without plea and the rest pled not guilty and were set trial dates in August and September.

Mary Millington from Wales was here for a means court for not paying a £100 fine from Feb 2000 blockade. She told the court how angry she was at the way they had made it so difficult for her to appeal her conviction but accepted that as she wasn’t paying, it was now time to go to jail. JP Tony Stirling said he couldn’t jail her without a social enquiry report. This would involve her having to come back or he could transfer the fine to Wales. She said she didn’t want the fine transfered because it could lead to Bailiffs taking her furniture. He adjourned her case until after lunch and then agreed he had made a mistake and that he didn’t need a social enquiry report to jail someone for not paying a fine and that although he didn’t want to send anyone to jail this seemed the best he could do for her. She was given 7 days.

Jane Tallents from Helensburgh was up for not paying a £300 fine. She explained that it was so high owing to having the misfortune of being before JP Mr Gillies (the expensive one!) and complained about inconsistent sentencing. She also explained that she has appealed and been turned down by Lord Prosser because he agreed with the opinion on the Lord Advocates Reference (given by Lord Prosser!!). Tony Stirling said he was going to ’try something new’ and imposed a ’Supervised Attendance Order’ of 60hrs. This means Jane will have to attend educational and work activities run by the Social Work dept. including such things as: Money management and budgeting, debt awareness, and employment rights, Health education, Social and life skills (trianing in things like dealing with authority and social responsibility!!) and unpaid work, for example painting and decorating and work with the elderly and disabled. She asked if she could refuse and was told no. She said that it would no doubt throw up interesting opportunities and of course may result in the local social work dept sitting down at the gates of Faslane at the next blockade!

Anthony Hannigan (Teapot) from Faslane Peace Camp was on trial for a blockade of Coulport on Nov 99. The police evidence was all over the place but in spite of a good defence from Solicitor Clare Ryan he was found guilty and fined £150. He refused to pay and was given 7 days.

Please write to those in jail.

Mary Millington, HMP Cornton Vale, Cornton Road, STIRLING, FK9 5NY.

Anthony Hannigan, HMP Greenock, Gateside, GREENOCK, PA16 9AH.

Both are due out on Thursday.

Printer friendly version

Home | Top