Trial Date set for Ploughshares Activists - March 7th

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Friday October 15, 2004 18:01

by Pitstop Ploughshares

087 9184552

Today in the Four Courts, Judge Hogan set a trial date of March 7th 2005 for the Pit Stop Ploughshares community.

Today in the Four Courts, Judge Hogan set a trial date of March 7th 2005 for the Pit Stop Ploughshares community.

The Ploughshares activists Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran and Ciaron O'Reilly are charged with two counts of criminal damage. The criminal damage charges of $US 2.5million to a U.S. Navy war plane and €200 to a hangar window at Shannon Airport arise out of their nonviolent disarmament action on February 3rd. 2003. (www.ploughsharesireland.org)

Following their arrests the five members of the pacifist Catholic Worker movement (www.catholicworker.org) spent over a month on remand at Limerick Prison before being released on bail.
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f convicted the criminal damage charges carry maximum sentences of ten years imprionment.

The Pit Stop Ploughshares have attracted widespread international support including a "presidential pardon" from Martin Sheen of the "West Wing", a blessing from Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Tutu, concert dedications from Kris Kristoffersen, Joan Baez, Damien Dempsey and Liam O'Maonlai.

A spokesperson for the group stated, "We draw our inspiration from the prophecy of Isaiah to nonviolently beat swords into ploughshares. We follow in the footsteps of many brothers and sisters who have disarmed nuclear and interventionary weapon systems. We acted to protect the children of Iraq dying under sanctions and threatened by the mobilisation of the US war machine against them.

We have called for a "Celebration of Hope" in Dublin to accompany our trial in the Four Courts. We call for an end to the US military use of Irish land and airspace. We look forward to explaining to a Dublin jury our action of conscience at Shannon Airport".

For more information
Contact 087 918 4552
www.ploughsharesireland.org
www.geocities.com/dublincatholicworker