Press Releases & Updates 2005

The defendants argued they were attempting to protect lives and property and were upholding the law, by nonviolently resisting Irish participation in the Iraq war.

Their trial began on Monday last March 7th but ran into difficulties on Friday last when the defence counsel requested the judge to discharge the jury.

Judge Frank O’Donnell said he could not reveal the reason for the move because he had to ensure that the retrial was fair and that justice was seen to be done.

The Director of Public Prosecutions must now decide whether to prosecute these five peace activists, who have been on strict bail conditions for over two years.

A substantial group of supporters applauded the activists as they left court. The defendants and their supporters then held a silent single file peace walk, in commemoration of the Iraq war dead, from the Four Courts to Dail Eireann. They were greeted at the Dail gates by John Gormley, Green Party TD; Finian McGrath, Independant TD; and Joe Costello, Labour TD.

The defendants submitted an appeal letter to the Taoiseach on behalf of Kelly Dougherty, former Military seargent with the National Guard Unit and co-founder of Iraq Veterans Against War).

Dougherty came to Ireland to support the ’Pitstop Ploughshares’ defendants and to testify to the brutality and criminality of the US occupation in Iraq.

Her letter called for an end to the use of Shannon Airport by the US Military and requested the Irish government to offer asylum to military resisters.

http://WarOnTrial.com

Update: A new trial date has been set for October 24th 2005 in Dublin’s Four Courts.

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