Press Releases & Updates 2003

Trident Ploughshares pledger Susan Brackenbury, and Shirley Law, a member of South West Women for Peace, entered the dockyard in the early hours of this morning with the intention of boarding Trident nuclear missile submarine HMS Vanguard and doing damage to either delay its re-fit or take it out of service. They are being held at the city’s Charles Cross police station.

Shirley Law, 57 from Plymouth, said, “The reason for my entering the dockyard was to do my best to disarm HMS Vanguard. I have grave concerns about the safety aspects & the health risks to the local environment and the population of Plymouth. Today is “Remembrance Sunday” so my action is for all victims of war, whether military or civilian and those who died or survived the bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki”

Susan Brackenbury, 28, of Faslane Peace Camp in Scotland said, “This action today is to disarm Trident so we don’t hear of people crying for their loved ones, due to the actions of an order to use nuclear missiles given. Our acts of disarmament are intended to stop ongoing criminal activities under well recognised principles of international law”

Sue is due to appear in court on Tuesday along with Matt Bury in connection with their attempt to get to HMS Vanguard on 22nd September.

Update: Sue and Shirley were arrested at 4.30am on Remembrance Sunday. Shirley has since been released early evening of Sunday while Sue will be kept overnight because of breach of her bail. Both are due to attend Plymouth Magistrates at 9.30 Monday morning.

They are charged on two counts, of Criminal Damage to a chain-link fence within the dockyard, having climbed the outer wall; and of Going Equipped to cause Criminal Damage to a Trident submarine.

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