Press Releases & Updates 2001

Witnesses at the trial of Dr. Margaret Jones (52), a freelance writer from Bristol, confirmed that her actions on that day were entirely peaceful. Her "crime" had been to link arms with others and to join the singing of the Red Choir from Wales. There could be no doubt that under the Geneva Protocols the UK’s deployment of Trident was illegal and as a responsible citizen she had both a duty and a right to act. She was found guilty by Justice of the Peace John MacPhail, one of the more moderate of the local lay magistrates, and fined £100.

Toby Clarke (26), a voluntary worker from Leeds, is likely to appeal his conviction after a statement he gave to police at the time of his arrest was either not noted or was lost. Again, witnesses agreed that the atmosphere at the south gate that day had been jovial. Toby asked JP Macphail for a not guilty verdict "in the name of humanity". The JP declined and fined him £100. Toby told him he would not be paying. Any spare money he had went to the community projects he was involved in.

The case against Sheila McKay (50), a nonviolence trainer and community worker from Edinburgh, collapsed when a police witness was unable to identify her.

Next Monday, the 8th October, MSP Tommy Sheridan is due to be tried in Helensburgh for breach of the peace at the Big Blockade in February. Last year Tommy served time in Greenock jail after refusing to pay a fine imposed for his part in the Crimebusters’ blockade of Faslane in February 2000.

Activists will again be ready to risk arrest at OKBLOK. David Mackenzie said: "There is a groundswell of revulsion against the warmongering and hypocrisy of our Western leaders and people recognise that states like the UK which actively deploy nuclear weapons are engaged in terrorism. If we are to have any credibility in "war" against terrorism one of the first steps will be to get rid of the weapons we have which can only murder millions of innocent people."

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