Press Releases & Updates 2004

Most of the cases relate to the series of mass blockades of the WMD base which began in February 1999. Among those appealing are former MSP Lloyd Quinan and Rev. David McLachlan, minister of Langside Parish Church in Glasgow. Lloyd, whose case is on Wednesday, is appealing against a conviction for breaching the peace at the blockade of Faslane in October 2001. David, who has taken part in five of the mass blockades, is appealing on Tuesday against a similar conviction after being one of the 385 people arrested at the Big Blockade of the base in February 2001.

It is expected that the appellants will present a variety of arguments, including the illegality of Trident, the right to peaceful protest as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, and various procedural issues. Some will have legal representation and others will represent themselves.

In May of this year a panel of five judges heard five appeals against breach of the peace convictions in an apparent attempt to clarify the nature of the offense. Three of these appeals concerned anti Trident protests. All were rejected and an eleven-page written judgment was issued, which in general reflected the status quo but provided enough latitude for magistrates in Helensburgh to continue with their routine convictions. It now appears that the High Court has decided to deal with the appeals which were held back to await the judgment.

Jane Tallents of Trident Ploughshares said: "We are delighted that Trident is being dragged into the High Court yet again. These two days of appeals will be packed with interest. The legal establishment may be hoping to stem all future Faslane related appeals, but given the inevitability of continued protest so long as Britain’s WMD remain actively and threateningly deployed, this issue will keep coming up. Behind all our individual appeals lies a common plea for the Scottish legal system to take seriously the principles of international law and apply them to Trident."

Press call: Parliament Square at 10 am Tuesday 19th October

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