Press Releases & Updates 2004

The case lead to yet more debate in the District Court in Helensburgh about what actually constitutes a Breach of the Peace. After the Crown witnesses, both Strathclyde police officers, confirmed to Neil that he was totally peaceful during the protest and caused them no alarm or fear he submitted that there was no case to answer. JP Fraser Gillies repelled this motion so Neil continued by giving evidence in his defence. During a lively exchange Procurator Fiscal, Ian McRae, claimed that the minute Neil stepped off the pavement he caused fear and alarm. Neil acknowledged that his actions had caused inconvenience but denied that they could have been any more than that. All this relates to the Smith v Donnelly opinion which is currently under review by the appeal court in Edinburgh.

Also appearing today in the Helensburgh District court were Sam Jones and Bobby Stewart who had their not guilty pleas accepted as there was a witness missing. Earlier Bobby who was in a lion costume and her daughter who was to be a witness, in a witches outfit, were told that they were inappropriately dressed and had to leave the court to get changed. They had taken part in the blockade with a group dressed as the characters from the Wizard of Oz. Zina Zelters’ case was also dropped because the Procurator Fiscal did not have her file with him.

Trident Ploughshares pledger Dave Rolstone who was present in court said:

’It’s no wonder that the court can’t distinguish between inconvenience and alarm when people are sent to take off colourful costumes and then the Justice appears in the most gaudy and tasteless tartan suit imaginable’

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