Press Releases & Updates 2000

Ellen Moxley from Dollar, Ulla Roder from Odense in Denmark and Angie Zelter from Norfolk were acquitted of ’malicious mischief’ estimated at £80,000 worth of damage, after they openly admitted they had thrown Trident-related equipment into Loch Goil. In acquitting them Sheriff Gimblett said that she could find no criminal intent in the women’s action.

A Lord Advocate’s reference, of which there are only five recorded instances, is a device whereby the Crown can seek a ruling on a particular case, when the point of law to be clarified will not otherwise be raised, e.g. at an appeal. There is no question of the acquittal being overturned. To date there is no information on the nature of the clarification sought, or of the date of the hearing.

A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said:

"Unless the reference is merely technical, the hearing will provide another opportunity to demonstrate the unlawfulness of Britain’s nuclear weapons policy and the solid justification under international humanitarian law for peaceful disarmament action against Trident. In the meantime we are stepping up our campaign with a mass blockade of Faslane base on February 14th."

Between 150 and 200 demonstrators and activists are expected at Faslane on 14th February, including six parliamentarians from Labour, SNP, Scottish Socialist Party and the Green party and a dozen Scottish clergy. The aim is to close the base for a day.

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