Press Releases & Updates 2002

Fiachra O’Luain (26), a student from Donegal charged with a breach of the peace at the blockade of Faslane last year, called his mother as a witness to give evidence as to his state of mind at the time of the blockade. He had been brought up to believe that nuclear weapons were the real breach of the peace, not sitting in the road. A supporter in court said: "It was as if all the whole court just faded into the background as Fiachra and his mum carried on this personal dialogue about what had motivated him and how much she supported what he was doing. The Procurator Fiscal seemed completely bemused and did not object." JP Dance found Fiachra not guilty on the grounds that the Crown had not shown that he had refused to desist from sitting in the road when asked but supporters in court also felt that must she had been affected by Fiachra’s obvious integrity.

JP Dance today admonished Nina Moeller, in her twenties, a student at Lancaster University, who was appearing for deferred sentence after a conviction for a breach of the peace at the Big Blockade last year. Ian Thomson from Douglas Water and Jim Bone from Helensburgh were fined £75, well below the usual tariff, for respectively cutting and kicking the Faslane perimeter fence last April.

Martha Scott was due to be tried for her part in the Big Blockade but a police witness did not show up. The Procurator Fiscal sought an adjournment but the JP refused it and also refused his subsequent request for a part trial. She made it clear that she was not happy with the situation and gave him no option but to accept Martha’s not guilty plea.

Trident Ploughshares comment: "Last week we complained to the District Court when a police witness did not show, leading to the adjournment of Joy Mitchell’s trial, and JP Gillies treated it as just one of these things. Perhaps JP Dance has taken our concerns on board."

Printer friendly version

Home | Top