Press Releases & Updates 2001

Appearing in Dumbarton Sheriff Court before Sheriff Scott were Dave Rolstone, 55, a boat builder from Wales and Rooh Starr, 31, of Faslane Peace Camp, on charges of breach of the peace. Dave referred to the long established legal principle that the law had to serve the interests of the community as well as those of the state. Following this principle he had in the past visited Iraq in defiance of the laws on sanctions because these laws were morally wrong. The Trident issue was exactly the same. Sheriff Scott told Dave that however much he might sympathise with his views he had to apply the law as it stood. He found Dave guilty but was content to admonish him. Rooh pled guilty to the breach of the peace charge and was also admonished.

Punishments for those found guilty of a breach of the peace at the Big Blockade have ranged from simple admonishments to fines of £250. There are no identifiable objective factors to explain these variations, such as the perceived relative seriousness of the alleged offence. Some people who simply sat in the road have been more severely punished than some who were tied or chained to each other in complex ways that were difficult for the police to unravel. Ironically, punishments in Dumbarton Sheriff Court are in general much less severe than those imposed in Helensburgh District Court.

Trident Ploughshares member David Mackenzie said: "It surely is a matter of considerable public interest that different magistrates and Sheriffs take such divergent views of anti-Trident actions and impose such different penalties. The criminal justice system is all at sea when it comes to dealing with this level of civil resistance."

Trident Three member Angie Zelter, who has spent the last month in Low Newton prison in Durham serving a sentence for an anti Star Wars action last year, was released on bail today after an appearance at Helensburgh District Court to answer outstanding warrants.

Printer friendly version

Home | Top