Press Releases & Updates 1998

They carried hammers with which to disarm the Trident nuclear system. The two arrests mark the start of the second phase of the campaign which saw 112 arrests in five days of direct action in August 1998.

The two campaigners, Peter Lanyon, aged 65, a former soldier in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and retired teacher, from Leiston, East Suffolk, and Rupert Eris, aged 35 years, a seasonal warden (nature conservation) with the National Trust, from Norfolk, were arrested by Ministry of Defence Police. They cut through the 10ft high razor wire-topped fence using bolt croppers, before being spotted. They were stopped between the perimeter fence and the second fence of 4ft high razor wire. The two men were removed from the area by boat. The campaigners are likely to be held overnight after being charged and brought before the Helensburgh District Court on Friday morning. The campaigners carried personal statements and had signed pledges of non-violence prior to their action.

Peter Lanyon said,

"It’s the disgust I feel that these criminal weapons are deployed in my name, for my so called defence - that’s my motivation"

Rupert Eris said,

"The British government has ignored its obligations under international law and treaty ... while it continues to do so the claims of an ’ethical’ foreign policy are a farce."

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