Press Releases & Updates 2002

Andrew Gray (32), a librarian and Matthew Holborow (27), a farmer, were on trial today in Helensburgh District Court for malicious damage to the fence on 6th August last year. In their testimonies they told the court that their action had in effect begun in July last year at the Durham miners gala when they had set up a stall openly publicising their intention to go to the base and cut the fence. The police there had paid no attention but they had attracted a great deal of public support which had encouraged them to carry out their plans.

In their summing up they claimed that that under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights the right to protest could only be taken away if all three conditions for doing so could be satisfied. The action in question had to be proscribed by law; the protesters’ aim must be shown not to be legitimate; taking away the right was necessary for democracy.

They argued that the Crown must show a pressing need for taking away the right. In this case that would entail arguing that society had a pressing need for Trident nuclear missiles, weapons which if used would result in incalculable breaches to international humanitarian law. It was impossible to argue that position.

After a short adjournment JP John MacPhail found them guilty and fined them each £200.

Later Kala Lightville (35), from Lancaster was fined £50 for her part in the Big Blockade of Faslane in February last year. She told the court "I have been at Chernobyl and I have seen the horrifying effect of radiation. Weapons as powerful as Trident scare me. I genuinely believe that people protesting at Faslane are doing the right thing."

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