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Press Releases & Updates 2001
17th September 2001
Heavy Fines for Big Blockaders
Growing concern about "maverick" JP
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As two people who took part in February’s Big Blockade of Faslane naval
base were given heavy fines in Helensburgh District Court today there is
growing concern about the complete inconsistency of the local courts in
dealing with comparable anti-Trident actions and in particular about the
sentences given out by Justice of the Peace Fraser Gillies.
This morning two activists were facing Big Blockade breach of the peace
charges - Bob Wallace (39) and Conrad Hughes (30), students at the Centre
for Human Ecology in Edinburgh. Both defended themselves and told an
unimpressed JP Gillies that the criminality lay in the Trident nuclear
weapon system, not in them. Conrad also pointed out that on the day in
question the north gate of Faslane had been closed by the base authorities
and it was the large number of police present which caused the road to be
blocked. JP Gillies found them guilty and fined them each £250. Both will
appeal the sentence.
David Mackenzie said:
"There is huge variation in the sentences handed out to people who have
been involved in identical actions at Faslane. On Friday Gareth Longford
was found guilty and simply admonished by Sheriff Murphy on a charge of
breach of the peace relating to the Big Blockade and today JP Gillies,
dealing with exactly the same circumstances, dishes out his standard fare.
Although individuals can appeal their own cases, the court authorities
should be taking action to rescue the reputation of the local justice
system. It’s bad enough that the courts are punishing people for behaving
as responsible citizens - it adds insult to injury when we have this
capricious nonsense."
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