Press Releases & Updates 2000

Facing trial were Morag Balfour (27), from Glenrothes in Scotland, Roz Bullen, from Edinburgh, Warren Canham (33), from Lanarkshire and Grace Nicol (31), Edinburgh. They were jointly charged with Breach of the Peace related to 19th August 1999, while Morag and Grace were jointly charged with vandalism relating to an action on 14th August 1999. Solicitor Liz Ross, appearing for Morag Balfour, gave notice of an intention to raise a devolution issue. This meant that a Diet of Debate would have to be arranged for another date. The newly refurbished court building, which will be used from now on for most trials does not have access for disabled peopled. Both Morag and Roz are disabled and the Procurator Fiscal avoided the problem by accepting their not-guilty pleas and formally dismissing the charges. Grace and Warren still face the charges and will go for trial on 4th October.

Also appearing were Kreb Dragonrider (42), from Faslane Peace Camp, currently on remand in Greenock Prison, Ulla Røder (45), a peace campaigner from Odense in Denmark and Marcus Armstrong (40), from Milton Keynes. They were jointly charged with malicious mischief relating to their getting through the fence at Coulport on 14th August 2000. Justice of the Peace Gillies was faced with a dilemma as Ruben Murdanaigum, acting for Ulla and Marcus, argued for an adjournment on the grounds that Ulla required an interpreter, that the issues raised required input from expert witnesses and that more time was needed to prepare what would be a complex defence. On the other hand Liz Ross, acting for Kreb, argued for his trial to proceed today so that he would not have to return to prison on remand, even if it meant separating the cases. After much discussion the JP decided to adjourn proceedings until Monday 4th September.

Jenny Gaiawyn, in her early twenties, from Faslane Peace Camp, had been charged with Breach of the Peace after locking on beneath a workers’ bus at the Construction gate at Coulport on 15th August 1999. The Procurator Fiscal sought and was granted an adjournment because a key crown witness was unavailable. After questioning by Jenny the PF admitted he had known about this for two months but had taken no action to prevent her from wasting money and time on a fruitless journeyed from Yorkshire. Jenny’s trial was adjourned to January 2001.

A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said: "Just when we think that the District Court can have no more surprises for us it conjures up a whole new level of inconsistency, discrimination and incompetence. As suits his whim the PF split one case and steadfastly refused to separate another and the JP did little to impose sanity and order."

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