Sheridan Not Guilty -
Right To Blockade Defended By Magistrate

TRIDENT PLOUGHSHARES Press Briefing: 08th October 2001
SSP Convener Tommy Sheridan was today found not guilty of breach of the peace for his part in February 12th's Big Blockade of Faslane Nuclear Submarine Base. Helensburgh District Court Magistrate Tony Stirling agreed with the Scottish Socialist Party MSP's defence that he had not caused serious alarm. Commenting on events such as the Big Blockade, Mr Stirling added, "The policy of mass arrests without justification cannot continue without careful consideration of how far the rights of individuals have been extended by the Human Rights Convention."

The verdict was greeted with applause from the packed courtroom.

When asked soon afterwards how he felt, Tommy answered "I am delighted with this verdict. It puts in question the whole process of mass arrests. Every citizen has a right to protest against these weapons. Considering the barbarism these weapons represent, people should not be arrested for simply being at a protest."

In the case immediately following, Iona Gorringe (21) a student in Edinburgh was also found not guilty by JP Stirling of a breach of the peace relating also to February's Big Blockade. The two remaining cases were adjourned at the request of the Procurator Fiscal Jonathan Kemp. In addition to more closely examining Article 10 of the Human Rights Convention, it is believed that he will be appealing the not guilty verdict handed down to Tommy Sheridan.

In an earlier case before the same magistrate in the same court, with the same Fiscal prosecuting, Mark Akkerman appeared on a charge of breach of the peace for his part in a blockade of the same nuclear submarine base. Despite almost identical evidence to the peacefulness of Akkerman's protest, and despite his solicitor using the same legal defence as Tommy Sheridan and Iona Gorringe, Akkerman was found guilty and fined £100.

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