Press Releases & Updates 2001

The criminal damage charge related to April 27th when Ulla (45), from Odense in Denmark, swam inside the Trident berths, reached Vanguard and prepared to remove from the boat’s hull some of the special tiles which help the sub remain undetected by enemy craft. When interrupted she spray-painted in cellulose letters a metre high the word "USELESS" on the hull. Although activists have on a number of occasions swum close to the Trident submarines this was the first time that one was reached in Faslane, a feat the MOD police claimed was impossible. According to Ulla it was "Easy-Peasy".

The feat was repeated in August this year by Marcus Armstrong and Rachel Remnant. In June 1999 Ulla was one of the three women who threw laboratory equipment from the Trident research barge Maytime to the bottom of Loch Goil and was subsequently acquitted at Greenock Sheriff Court.

Ulla told the court that that international humanitarian law was a higher law than the Scottish High Court Opinion this year which had criticised the acquittal of the Trident Three at Greenock. Sheriff Fitzsimmons acknowledged that Ulla was sincere in what she did and that she would harm no-one. At the same time she was picking and choosing which laws she would obey. As a "humble sheriff" he was bound by the law as it stood. He deferred sentence until 5th October for Social Enquiry and Community Service reports.

It was also noted that the Crown has served a notice on Ulla that the sheriff could recommend to the Home Office that she be deported. She continues to be on remand in Cornton Vale prison in Stirling.

In the same court today Gareth Longford was found guilty and admonished by Sheriff Murphy on a charge of breach of the peace relating to the blockade of Faslane in February.

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