Press Releases & Updates 2002

The five were held overnight after being arrested for actions against RNAD Coulport yesterday. They appeared at Helensburgh District Court this afternoon on a variety of charges. Roger Franklin (75) from Gloucestershire said he could not plead to the charge as he considered that he was decommissioning the base not committing a crime. As supporters who had come from the Trident Ploughshares camp applauded JP MacPhail demanded silence in court. Roger was given a trial date in December. As he was lead away the supporters clapped David Mackenzie’s appearance and the order was given for the court to be cleared. Reluctantly people left to wait outside. David Mackenzie pled not guilty and received a trial date in December.

Next up was David Heller (26), a volunteer with For Mother Earth in Belgium, who plead guilty to a charge of Malicious mischief, explaining the only reason for his plea was that the Crown were opposing bail and he had no faith in the court not to remand him in custody. He was fined a sum of 100 pounds.

Tiina Sarkinen (21) from Finland pled guilty for similar reasons but her sentence was deferred until the trial of her co-accused Karen Fallon from Faslane Peace Camp which will be in December.

Spokesperson Ian Roberts said: "The local courts may try to label our actions against the Trident bases as minor crimes but we have a lot of support for our citizens disarmament and we will continue until the Government recognises that Trident is the real crime"

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