Press Releases & Updates 2001

Brian Quail (63), a retired teacher from Glasgow with a long history of direct action against nuclear weapons, was sent to Saughton Prison in Edinburgh yesterday after a warrant was served on him for unpaid fines amounting £365 for two anti-Trident actions. He had gone to Edinburgh Sheriff Court for a hearing in connection with his part in the Trident Ploughshares demonstration in the Scottish Parliament in April.

It is understood that Brian has a fourteen-day sentence. Last month Brian was one of seven people with a history of protest at Faslane who were refused entry to Italy, giving rise to concern about British authorities gathering and passing on to foreign police forces lists of peaceful protesters.

Meanwhile, in Dumbarton Sheriff Court, another TP activist was fined £100 for his part in the Big Blockade of Faslane in February. Allen O’Keefe, from Cromer in Norfolk, told the court that he had been part of a Bicycle Performance Art event, an installation which the police could have easily moved from the roadway if they had wished. Cross-examining the police witnesses Allen was able to show that they had not been alarmed by his action. To establish a conviction of breach of the peace the Crown ought to show that people were or could potentially be alarmed. Sheriff Montgomery prevented Allen from introducing international law as part of his defence and found him guilty.

8 trials of TP activists are scheduled today and no less than 48 further trials are due to take place before the end of this month.

Trident Ploughshares member David Mackenzie said: "It’s high time the Scottish public were made fully aware of the campaign by the authorities to stamp out peaceful dissent. The courts clearly feel they have carte blanche to punish, harass and imprison peaceful protesters after the shameful decision of the High Court earlier this year. The net effect of their repression will be to stiffen our resolve."

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