Press Releases & Updates 2000

Alan Wilkie (67) a retired company director from Currie, Midlothian, had been charged with breach of the peace following his participation in a demonstration at HMNB Faslane on 14 Nov 1998. He and fellow members of the Adomnan affinity group of Trident Ploughshares had held a Christian service at the base’s North gate before chaining themselves together across the gateway.

Alan had two parts to his defence, one based on the alleged facts of the case and the other on matters of law. In the event only the first part was required. The charge stated that he had behaved in a disorderly manner, had refused to desist when asked and had obstructed traffic. There was no evidence that his conduct was in any way disorderly. An MOD witness, Sergeant Rielly, had claimed that he had warned Alan three times to desist. Alan pointed out that he had a considerable hearing loss, that none of the other members of his group had heard a warning and that a warning given through the weld-mesh gateway at the base would have been inaudible above the loud singing of the protesting group. Defence testimony had cast considerable doubt on the Crown claim that vehicles had been impeded. There was also a 50 minute discrepancy in the Crown evidence in regard to the time of arrest.

After a short adjournment for deliberation JP Joe Scullion found the case not proven. A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said:

"The verdict is dishonest. Alan’s demolition of the Crown case was total and the JP was duty bound to find him not guilty. The court is quick to find us guilty on thin and dubious evidence but today, when the crown case was found wanting at every turn, the magistrate would still not do the honourable thing. At least the Crown will be on notice that on matters of fact and matters of law it will be challenged in every detail."

Yesterday (30th May) Trident Ploughshares pledger Zoe Weir (24) was found guilty on a charge of malicious mischief and fined £150.

Last May she was one of a group attempting to scale the perimeter fence at Faslane, and had cut the razor wire with a hacksaw. On a second charge, relating to a Faslane Peace Camp action last November, when she locked herself to the bottom of a bus going into the base, she was found not guilty. Her lawyer, Clare Ryan, had argued that she could not be guilty of a breach of the peace since no-one had been alarmed or threatened by her action and that she had a right to engage in peaceful protest.

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