The bad news from court - Shannon cases

by Badman Wed Apr 30, 2003 16:48

In time's like this, we get a chance to see who was genuinely in the anti-war movement for reasons of principle and who was in it for other reasons. There were several anti-war groups and a huge number of individuals involved. The government have obviously gone out of their way to punish the bravest among us. Even if you didn't agree with their tactics, from the scale of the fines, the government sees this as a way of attacking the whole movement. I mean over 3 grand for trespass, that is unprecedented!

So I'd be interested to know if the IAWM/SWP/SP/SF/LP/GNAW will be attempting to do any fundraising for these people, the brave few who bear the brunt of the government's wrath at being exposed by the movement.

So come on folks, you have a chance to show that you are bigger than the sectarianism and opportunism that many have accused you all of. If you were to make an effort to raise the money for these fines, then you could go some way to proving the begrudgers wrong. Please surprise us.

by Joe Wed Apr 30, 2003 16:49

I know it is not supposed to be in any way commercialised but i do think that RTS would be an opportunity to raise some cash for those concerned? some donation buckets about the place?

by Workers Solidarity Wed Apr 30, 2003 17:06

Support those facing charges for Direct Action at Shannon

As we go to press, at least 19 people are currently facing prosecution out of the October and March direct actions at Shannon airport.

In addition 5 people are in the courts arising from the Catholic Worker/Ploughshares 'decommissioning' of a US military transport plane. Mary Kelly is facing charges for taking a hammer to the same plane on an earlier occasion, and Eoin Dubsky for spraypainting a warplane.

Cash is needed for legal costs and for travel to remand hearings. These people not only protested against war, but also bravely did their bit to end the use of Shannon by warplanes. Not everyone can do this but most of us can manage a contribution towards their legal fund.

Donate to the Ploughshares Defense Fund by making cheques payable to Peace and Reconciliation, c/o Ploughshares, 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7.

Donate to the 19 direct action defendants: Cheques can be made out to Shannon Solidarity, and sent to Shannon Solidarity c/o Ecology Society, Students Centre, NUIG, Newcastle, Galway.

Or money can be sent to the Bank of Ireland, NUIG, Newcastle, Galway; account number 89174196,

by maalox - no organisation today- not enough caffeine Wed Apr 30, 2003 17:19 maalox at safe-mail dot net

There are 11 or so people still facing charges from the chaos surrounding bush's visit to the north, they need money and EYE-WITNESS STATEMENTS from people who were there, plus a copy of any video footage you might have.

Get in contact w. [email protected] if you can do anything to help.

by James McKenna Wed Apr 30, 2003 18:04

Where do judges like these come from ?

Unelievable fines! And as for the commuted prison sentence - what an idiot!

Judge Curtain in Kerry today missed his second appointment in court to face child sex charges. He also missed the boat when he stood for election for the PD's ! Following a power breakfast with Sumo Harney herself (and that must have been some spectacle) his judgeship came to him.

Who is the judge who handed down these sentences? Where did he/she come from ? It seems to me like there is a regime that needs to be ousted! A regime that abuses it's own people and has done for generations. Treacherous traitors in wigs and gowns. Shame on them !

by Anonymous Wed Apr 30, 2003 19:15

ABSOULTE DISGRACE, but no surprise of course.

May all groups and individuals continue to critically analyze one another but PLEASE keep the primary focus on the common enemy - this murderous, vicious, capitalist, elitist, system with its neoliberal agenda. BRING IT DOWN.

by Fintan Lane Wed Apr 30, 2003 21:22 corkantiwar at hotmail dot com 087 1258325

[Moved by R Isible, 1 of IMC]

Judge Mangan hands down severe fines to anti-war activists. All Cork activists charged are banned from County Clare.

As one of those before Tulla District Court today on trespass charges, I reckon I can give a more definitive report on the sentencing outcome than the earlier postings. All nine were charged in connection with the mass trespass at Shannon on 12 October last.

First of all, the judge was clearly hostile to the anti-war movement and he made a brief disconnected speech at the end regarding democracy and its discontents. He handed down the following sentences to the nine who were before the court:

Anthony Quinn (a journalist) had a charge of trespass dismissed. The evidence made it clear that the Gardai had arrested him despite the production of a press card.

Two (one from Dublin and one from Sligo) pleaded guilty to trespass and were fined E100 and E50 respectively.

James McBarron (Cork) pleaded not guilty (as did all the Cork activists) to criminal damage to the fence and trespass. He was found guilty. In common with all five defendants from Cork, he argued just cause and refused to apologise for his actions. James has ten previous convictions for political offences and the judge focused on this, imposing an outrageous fine totalling E3,150. He also offered a choice of a six month jail sentence or 240 hours community service. James was also banned from County Clare for two years.

Fintan Lane (Cork) was found guilty of trespass and fined E750. Also banned from County Clare for two years.

Kieran Hegarty (Cork) was found guilty of criminal damage to the fence and fined E350. Also banned from County Clare for two years.

Paul McAndrew (Cork) was found guilty of trespass and fined E350. Also banned from County Clare for two years.

Jarlath McGrath (Cork) was found guilty of trespass and fined E200. Also banned from County Clare for two years.

An activist from Clare was fined E200 for trespass and ordered to stay at least five miles from Shannon for two years.

by John Wed Apr 30, 2003 22:03

I totally agree but it's hypocritical for the likes of Badman and the other similar post(ers) after attacking the IAWM to now ask for unity. The IAWM would have a point in saying well you made your bed... However given that we understand the nature of the state and relate to a movement, I dare say many of us will be involved in fundraising for the fines. Hopefully McCarthyism will do likewise...

by mr jinks Thu May 01, 2003 09:51

good enough for the idiots who got fined. now we will see who sticks together. ye will have to gather all your dole money together and still come no where near paying it off. ye got what ye deserve. no f**k off and work like the rest of us..

by Josef Thu May 01, 2003 10:48

They should be made do some community service like making little stones out of big stones. Good to see he's not another wet liberal.

by Ciaron O'Reilly - Dublin Catholic Worker Thu May 01, 2003 11:28

No wonder Limerick's got so many problems, every sentence I've seen this guy give...he wacks on an internal exile punishment. Is this constituional?

Anyways, we had a good GNAW reflection on the anti-war movement last night and one proposal was to hit the streets whenever they have activists in court....if we can't make it to Tulla, should be visible solidarity on the streets of Dublin, Cork, Galway whereever.

There are two Catholic Workers in Tulla court next Thursday for the Good Friday spud planting....so we will come up with some solidarity demonstration fine/expenses collecting thang in Dublin and will post it on indymedia soon.

Don't let the bastards/cynics/servants of the war machine get ya down. You're in trouble for us, we're on the loose for you.

Solidarity
Ciaron

by Raymond Thu May 01, 2003 11:43

Some day my family's millions will pay these fines without the blink of any eyelid.

Till then, anyone else out there with a bit of loot!

In any case, no doubt, all the decent minded people of Ireland will rally together to pay these grotesque fines.

Regarding the "bastards" Ciaron - rememember your a Catholic! :) Focus on the "system" - not the lives that are bound up within it.

Your courage is inspiring. Best wishes too, to all the couragous others who have been arrested to try and save thousands of innocent lives.

by Badman Thu May 01, 2003 12:10

It's not hypocritical to ask people who have publically trumpeted their anti-war positions (note that I include SP/SWP/IAWM/SF/LP/GNAW) to help out with the unfortunate few who have borne the brunt of the state's reaction to the movement. In fact I'd say that to publically promote your party and your politicians for their anti-war credentials and then not to help out when the state criminalises anti-war activists, is the height of hypocrisy.

Also when you say that the "IAWM would have a point in saying well you made your bed...", indeed they would, and their point would be a textbook definition of sectarianism. Sectarianism is _not_ criticising other groups, it _is_ taking action that is detrimental to the movement as a whole when it creates a perceived marginal advantage for your particular sect within the movement.

It is interesting that you have picked up on the IAWM rather than any of the other groups that I mentioned. You wouldn't by any chance be a toytown trot who has absolutely no intention of doing anything that won't create some immediate advantage for your own little cult, would you?

by Sean - CPA Thu May 01, 2003 12:40

I was one of those who travelled from Cork to Tulla for yesterday's Court case re the Shannon Mass Tresspass. An impartial judge would have thrown the whole lot of cases out due to the sheer incompetence and contradictory evidence of the garda witnesses.

A red-faced Inspector Tom Kennedy led the prosecution and cross examined his garda team. (About 15 gardai spent the whole day in Court while a full scale murder hunt was underway a few miles north. Just a comment on use of Garda resources).

The gardai clashed in their evidence and clearly embellished their original statements. They were caught out by the defence lawyers but the Judge had his mind up. Once again he gave his usual lecture about peaceful protests and tried his best to stop anyone talking about the issue which led to the protests. He didn't want to hear.

One Garda, registration number CL-129, spent much of the morning text-messaging someone on his mobile phone. After a heavy lunch he must have felt tired and slept for about twenty minutes before being nudged by a colleague who noticed that we were looking in Garda CL-129's direction.

Inspector Kennedy harrassed the defendants, shouting at them and putting words into their mouths. The Judge made no effort to control the Garda Prosecutor. Thankfully the defendents were well able for the Inspector who became more red-faced as the political show trial progressed.

The Gardai may have won this case, but they lost the argument. We're not going away, you know!

by John Thu May 01, 2003 14:24

Your idea of unity over this issue is peculiar. You think you can achieve it by spouting about political parties and demand they act in such and such a way. I would be suprised if you have ever physically brought people together.
The main point is that the debate over tactics was important. If you go down a direct action path by yourself, then the state can attack and cut you off from the movement. You and others have attacked the rest of the movement over this issue. Now you demand we act in un-conditionally supporting people engaged in small acts of da even though a lot of us were saying that the methods were incorrect at the time.
Finally your posts will not encourage people to get behind those facing fines - but then again what your usual posturing comments demonstrate is that you care more about attacking 'trots' than achieving a united campaign.

by Badman Thu May 01, 2003 15:11

I am not 'demanding' anything, certainly not 'unconditional support' - where did you get that idea from?

All I said is that this is an opportunity for all of those who claimed to be anti-war to literally put their money where their mouth is. You don't have to support their actions, you don't have to agree with their tactics, all I'm saying is that these fines are very clearly an attempt by the state to attack the anti-war movement as a whole, by showing people the dangers of getting involved in this type of thing. You can either say "I disagree with their actions but I'll defend them against the state as I recognise that their intentions were good and they do represent a part of the anti-war movement", or you can say "they didn't follow the policy of my party, fuck em, they deserve it". I think that the second response would illustrate utter sectarianism, maybe you don't. So be it.

Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the trots, but I've been around for too long to ignore the fact that the trots almost always act in the most sectarian way possible, especially the SWP. I simply can't pretend that I expect them to do anything else this time. I would love to be proved wrong and will gladly eat humble pie if I am.

To finish, allow me to rephrase this in a way that will make it even easier for you to distort what I have said:

"I DEMAND UNCONDITIONAL support from all the parties for EVERYTHING I believe in. If you refuse, you are REFORMIST, REACTIONARY, SNIVELING LAPDOGS of the BOURGEOISIE. KILL ALL TROTS"

by juggs mango Thu May 01, 2003 16:15

you caught sleeping in my court again
only i am allowed do that!
its wonder you didnt light up a fag and all!

by kitty-kat Thu May 01, 2003 16:39

Emm.. There's some serious ranting going on up there so i've kinda lost interest and skipped to the botto./ sorry lazy me!

we talked about a collection at the street party. unanimously endorsed (unsurprisingly)

by Limerick1919 Thu May 01, 2003 18:32 limerick1919 at hotmail dot com

Ciaron said

>>>>No wonder Limerick's got so many problems, every sentence I've seen this guy give...he wacks on an internal exile punishment. Is this constituional?<<<<

Judge Mangan serves in CLare! Limerick isn't that bad you were at the same stab city stuff before - give it a rest please.

btw I support what you do.

Now, aside from collecting for the fines which should be done. I think this county ban should be challenged, I can understand the logic regards the environs of Shannon, even if i disagree with it but a whole county? That is plain stupid and should be exposed for its idiotic thinking.

Maybe a protest at some other location like miltown malbay for Willie Clancy or something. Although obviously those charged have to decide that but maybe with the support of others.

by aye Fri May 02, 2003 17:49

These pro-war propogators are an arrogant and egotistical minority.

They have broken the law with their own (bloody) hands and do democracy no good service by their lawlessness. Most people oppose this war in a moral way, but some keep on supporting it, they are obviously a minority of malcontents that has not learned decency.

One of them is so arrogant as to expect everyone in a room to rise when he enters it, before he tells everyone what bad boys and girls they are, and goes off on an idyllic fairy tale of something known as "democracy and justice in Ireland".

He condemns people for asking civil valid questions and because irate at any honest criticism of the apparatus he facilitates.

Others will embellish evidence, perjure themselves, drive drunk (while in uniform) and then threaten to arrest people on trumped up charges.

...they give the majority of slick, competent warmongers a bad name.

by dynamic peace Fri May 02, 2003 21:02

This is not bad news. These people deserve what they got. After all it was their bully boy tactics that more or less resulted in the anti-war movement falling apart. Shame on them.

by Ciaron Fri May 02, 2003 21:09

The insight was the dude is based in Clare and pushes the convicted out...maybe into Limerick...seems like a weird/internal exile sentence as opposed to a 20 mile radius of where the offence took place/may take place again.

...he didn't like us holding hands in court today...and was challenged by a member of the public on issues of "perceived prejudice" as reported in the Irtish Times yesterday etc

.....I got nothing against Limerick, loved my stay, a bit of a hassle being raided by the Special Branch at the B & B the first morning outta jail...but wonderful folks...hope to be back soon etc etc.....
Peace/Prosper
Ciaron

by Stephen Sat May 03, 2003 00:09

It ggod to see some justice in this country. Lets hope the rest get sent down for a long time . All them trouble making attention seeks.

p.s They did a good job in halting the war. Another success

by Justin Morahan Sun May 04, 2003 01:18 justinmorahan at eircom dot net

WAS JESUS CHRIST ARROGANT AND EGOTISTICAL BECAUSE HE BROKE THE LAW, JUDGE MANGAN?- That was my poster outside Judge Mangan's court in Ennis on Friday. I don't think he saw it so maybe some of you will tell him. I would like to know his answer.