Press Releases & Updates 2005

Trident Ploughshares

Press release: 12th September 2005

Festive Blockaders Not Guilty

Today four peace activists were found not guilty of a breach of the peace at Faslane naval base.

Morag Balfour, an SSP activist from Glenrothes, Jean Oliver, an office administrator from Biggar, Barbara Dowling, from Glasgow, and David Nicholson, also from Glenrothes, appeared at Helensburgh District Court.

On 22nd December last year the main gate of the nuclear weapons base was blockaded for two hours when the protesters lay down in the gateway and attached themselves to each other, using tubes and climbing clips. The blockade was timed to disrupt the arrival of the morning shift and led to long tailbacks of worker traffic before the traffic was diverted to an auxiliary entrance. The blockaders included Santa Claus and were all in colourful festive gear.

Justice of the Peace Viv Dance, without explanation, pronounced all four not guilty. The accused believe the verdict was due to the weakness of the police evidence.

Barbara Dowling said: “ When we spoke from the witness stand it was Trident which was on trial. We spelled out just how illegal and immoral it is. We were delighted to be acquitted – after all, we had done nothing wrong.”

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