Press Releases & Updates 2002

Eoin (22), a student from Cork took part in the blockade of the base in February. He told Justice of the Peace Viv Dance that the Opinion of the Scottish High Court in the Lord Advocate’s Reference on the Trident Three trial did not give "carte blanche" to the state for all eternity. The arguments for Trident’s illegality could still be put.

He referred to the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act of 2001, under which anyone "possessing or producing" a nuclear weapon is "guilty of an offence," and "liable on conviction to life imprisonment" - unless, under Section 48 of the Act, such possession or production has been authorised by the Secretary of State. Making no reference to these arguments JP Dance found him guilty but in view of his means deferred sentence for six months to be of good behaviour. She told him: "When you appear before me again I recommend that you produce evidence of your community work to prove that you are a man of peace."

Rowan Burrough (32), also charged with a breach of the peace at the February blockade, was treated differently, in spite of his assertion that he had been acting in good faith, and fined £130. Janet Fenton (57), a voluntary worker from Edinburgh, was fined £100 for cutting the perimeter fence at Faslane in April 2001. JP Dance advised her that if she did not pay the fine she would be given a Supervised Attendance Order of 20 hours.

Trident Ploughshares comment: "Eoin us right. If they think the argument against Trident is over they have another think coming. The rest of the world is talking about international law and weapons of mass destruction. It’s time the magistrates in Helensburgh to wake up and face the facts."

Meanwhile the cases of three others who blockaded the base in February wrapped up in a giant green dragon were dealt with at Dumbarton Sheriff Court. David Heller (26), and Wesley De Noyette (25), both voluntary workers with the Gent based For Mother Earth Campaign pled guilty and were fined £50 by Sheriff Fraser, while Ben Mackay (58), a retired headteacher from Portsmouth, had his not guilty plea accepted because a prosecution witness was unavailable.

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