Press Releases & Updates 2006

Ludwig Appeltans (35) from Belgium, Richard McKean (38) from Glasgow, Joe McLoughlin (35) from Perth, Pippa Robertson (21) from Edinburgh and Anna-Linnéa Rundberg (26) from the Åland Islands in Finland, were in the airport grounds on the night of the 6th and 7th August for around 40 minutes before being apprehended. They went on board a USAF C130 Hercules aircraft and examined a Polar Air plane.

At the conclusion of the Crown case Sheriff Montgomery accepted a plea of No Case to Answer from the defence in regard to one charge, that they had been on board an aircraft without the owner’s permission. The defence pointed out that the Crown had failed to lead evidence of sufficient standard that they had no permission. The Crown also abandoned the other two charges, related to being on the airfield and alleged damage to a fence and a door handle.

Anna-Linnéa said: "I am delighted that this is not hanging over me any more. As was shown today, the courts can be good at upholding the technical essentials of a fair trial but we look forward to the day when they will really do their job properly and uphold international law. After all, that’s what our inspection was all about - the UK’s collusion in illegal arms shipments."

Trial dates have not been set for two other groups of Prestwick inspectors. One group has been issued with revised charges and has a preliminary diet in December. The other group is waiting for notification of revised charges.

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