Owen Rice further sentences

national | anti-war / imperialism | press release Thursday March 04, 2004 19:00 by Release Owen Rice Campaign - Shannon Peace House

Judicial Harrassment Continues

A draconian sentence has been handed down to Owen Rice in the ongoing campaign of harassment that he is suffering under the Irish Judicial system.

Press Release re. Owen Rice
by Release Owen Rice Campaign. Thursday,

phone: 085 7395288 087 9777703

At Balinasloe District Court on Wednesday 3rd March he was fined three hundred Euro, banned from driving for twelve months, or alternatively sentenced to 45 days in prison for four counts of various driving charges relating to alleged offences on 5th December 2003. Eoin was on his way to Shannon to participate in the peaceful protest at Shannon due to take place on 6th December. When he eventually made his way to Shannon later that night he was again harassed, accused of further driving and public order offences and held in custody for about 12 hours thereby preventing him from attending the Shannon protest.

Owen Rice who is currently on remand in Limerick Prison, was in the custody the Gardai and had no funds available to him to pay his fine in the court, was taken away from court without access to his solicitor and brought back to the prison. Owen is expected to appeal this judgement to the Circuit Court.
Owen will be back in the District Court in Shannon with another peace activist Conor Cregan next Thursday 11th March. Both were arrested at Shannon Town shopping centre, on the morning of 7th December 2003. Conor Cregan was charged under Section 6 of the Public Order Act and Owen Rice was also charged on a number of counts. Both were released after two hours in custody in Shannon Garda Station. A week later Owen was again arrested in Galway and charged on various counts at Milstreet Garda Station in Galway. Owen alleges that he was severely assaulted while in Garda custody.

For further details
ring Conor Cregan 087 6981831
Ed Horgan 086 2380911
Tim Hourigan 087 9777703