Ploughshares Trial - Day 3

by R Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:48

http://www.warontrial.com

by Coonor Crega Wed Mar 09, 2005 13:42 Amsterdam

On Monday There was a small vigil at the Irish Embassy in Den Haag, the Netherlands, to show Support and solidarity with the Pit Stop Ploughshares.

A letter of protest was handed in the 3rd Sec. Patrick O Rielly.
Here is the text

Dr Kuyperstraat 9
2514 BA Den Haag
Den Haag
7/03/05

Dear Sir,
We the undersigned, ex-patriots resident in the Netherlands, wish to register our protest at the treatment of the people known as the “Pit Stop Ploughshares” namely Damien Moran, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallen, Ciaron O Reilly and Deirdre Clancy by the Government of Ireland. These people stand trial in the Four Courts in Dublin for actively opposing the American war machine at Shannon Airport, through which over 150,000 American troops passed on their way to the theatres of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

These people need to be held up as heroes by our Vichy government, who meekly let George W. Bush and the C.I.A erode the neutrality enshrined in our constitution by facilitating the build-up to an unjust, immoral and sickening act of violence known as war which had no goal other than hegemony over the worlds depleting resources.

In name of trade and the crumbs off the butchers table, Bertie Ahern and his executive, provide a pit stop of death for countless young men and women who never enjoy duty free at Shannon Airport on their return journey. The same duty free facilities denied to the passengers of the C.I.A’s Gulfstream jet N379P used for ferrying untried prisoners to outsourced offshore torture camps.

We demand that the executive stop their complicity in this war crime and live up to the expectations of the thousands of people who marched for peace in Dublin on the 15th of February 2003.

The "Pit Stop Ploughshare's" have done their duty to the nation of Ireland and must not be criminalized for their actions.

signed:

Conor Cregan
Grainne Griffin
Darren Cogavin

by . Wed Mar 09, 2005 13:45

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by Scott Schaeffer-Duffy - Saints Francis & Therese Catholic Worker Wed Mar 09, 2005 14:45 theresecw at aol dot com 52 Mason Street, Worcester, MA 01610 USA 001 508 753-3588

1 pm report
The case for the prosecution entered its second day at Dublin's Four Courts for the trial of five defendants accused of criminal damage for what they called "an act of disarmament" to a US Navy warplane at Ireland's Shannon airport on Feb 3 2003.
The jury trial of the Pit Stop Ploughshares entered its third day today at Dublin's Four Courts. Testimony was given by two prosecution witnesses as to statements made by defendants after their arrest on Feb 3, 2003. In a surprising move, the prosecutor read aloud the defendants' "statement of faith" and acknowledged that they acted in conscience. The statement charged that the presence of American warplanes bound for Iraq constituted a crime against international law, the Irish constitution, and moral law. The defense objected to the rapid delivery of the prosecution in reading the document and the judge instructed him to read it again more slowly so the jury could understand it. A legal controversy arose when the defense asked that a number of photographs of war-injured children and two documentaries about destruction in Iraq be admitted into evidence. The jury was removed and the judge heard arguments on the relevance of these items. The defense argued that the statute of Criminal damage includes "lawful excuse" for destruction done to protect one's self or others. They also argued that "it is immaterial whether the defendants belief is justified or not so long as it is honestly held." The materials, according to the defense, "informed the minds and consciences of the defendants." They were motivated, according to the defense, by "appalling injuries visited upon children in Iraq and the likely injuries which would be visited upon noncomatants in the impending war." The prosecution argued that the materials were irrelevant in so far as their inclusion would necessitate the inclusion of all items brought to the scene. He said letting the jury see the videos and photos opens the door to requiring them to read the Bible and Koran which were also brought to the scene. He said that opening the door to too much subjective material as to mindset could have "unlimitted political consequences." He said that the jury should not be trying the Iraq war. He said that a person could not be justified burning down a drug dealer's house because he wanted to save his children from the harm of drugs. He called the defense arguments "illogical and untenable." The judge said that he would not allow "a bottomless well of influences." The defense replied that the statute was very clear in giving the defendants unlimitted rights to bring testimony to their honestly held beliefs. He pointed out that those beliefs need not be reasonable so long as they are sincere. The objective criteria for measuring them was in determining whether the defendants' actions could "save life in Iraq. " The judge did not make a ruling in the morning session.

by Midlands antiwar Wed Mar 09, 2005 17:55

good reporting. Good stuff in papers too. Got the IAWM (or is it SWP??) bulletin earlier today and was shocked to see Ploughshares as the SECOND item and only a brief paragraph!!!

Not good enough but I'm no longer surprised by stuff like this. They've pissed off so many good people in the antiwar community . Saddening.

by trialwatcher2 - catholic worker Wed Mar 09, 2005 18:44 iraqiboy04 at yahoo dot com

Judge O'Donnell ruled that the John Pilger's Killing the Children video tape, photos of Iraqi civilians, the Bible and Qu'raan (the items of the shrine that had been placed before the plane in the activists' prayer circle) were ruled inadmissible in court. The prosecution's argument was that if the video were allowed to be viewed then the entire Bible and Qu'raan would also be allowed to be read in their entirety as reasons for the defendents to act.
The defense will call its witnesses tomorrow.

by wertyu Wed Mar 09, 2005 19:03

http://www.freedominst.org/2005/03/ploughshares-trial.html

by redjade Wed Mar 09, 2005 19:04

http://WarOnTrial.com

Damien and Ciaron brief supporters on what's been happening inside

by IRL Timez Wed Mar 09, 2005 21:26

[republished in total due to pay-for website]

Court hears anti-war protesters attacked plane

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2005/0308/breaking76.htm

Five anti-war protesters charged with damaging a United States of America aircraft at Shannon Airport in February 2003 were carrying a large pickaxe and several hammers with anti-war slogans inscribed on them, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today.

"Put a stop to genocidal war", "War stops here", "The war ends here", "B52 swords into ploughshares", "The B-52 has killed and plans to kill children" were among slogans engraved on the implements along with ancient celtic emblems, the jury was told on day two of the trial.

The court also heard that one of the hammers was a 6-foot long plastic inflatable "baloony thing" in the Irish Tricolour with the words "Hammered by the Irish" written on it. Prosecuting counsel, Conor Devally SC, described it as an "object normally carried by patriotic football supporters."

The five accused are Damien Moran a student priest with the Holy Ghost Fathers in Dublin and Ciaran O'Reilly an Australian, both working with homeless people and living at the same address on South Circular Road, Rialto; Karen Fallon a Scottish marine biologist, also living on SCRd; Nuin Dunlop, from the United States of America, a trained counsellor who lives in Dublin city centre; and Deirdre Clancy, a copy editor, of The Spinnaker, Alverno, Clontarf.

They have all pleaded not guilty to one count of damaging a US naval plane and to causing similar damage to two glass door panels at Aer Rianta at Shannon Airport on February 3rd, 2003 Sgt Michael O'Connell of Shannon Garda Station, who was on protection duty of the aircraft on February 3rd, 2003, told Mr Devally that he was standing by the door of his car which was parked about 30-40 yards from the plane when he heard a loud bang.

At about 3.30am the five accused came running onto the hangar "roaring and shouting". He was shocked and frightened and was unable to say for sure exactly what they were saying. Sgt O'Connell told the jury of nine women and three men that he tried to stop them by putting his outstretched arms and body between them as they ran towards the aircraft.

Sgt O'Connell said he then saw Mr O'Reilly jumping up and hitting the nose of the aircraft several times as Mr Moran hit another part of the plane with his hammer.

Sgt O'Connell said the three women were at the rear of the aircraft and all were using hammers, one of which was the plastic inflatable one. Sgt O'Connell said he eventually managed to take the pickaxe from Mr O'Reilly and was also able to disarm Moran as he attacked the plane.

Sgt O'Connell said he had radioed for assistance before he began the struggle with the protesters and two other gardai arrived in response to his call. By this stage the weapons were on the ground and the protesters were sitting in a circle saying prayers.

Pressed by Mr Hugh Hartnett, defence counsel for Mr O'Reilly and Mr Moran, Sgt O'Connell agreed that even though he could not specifically say what the protesters were saying when they charged into the premises he heard them shouting something about "God".

He also agreed with Mr Hartnett that Mr O'Reilly had been "comforting" towards him. He also agreed with Mr Michael O'Higgins SC, that all the protesters showed absolutely no malice towards him personally during the whole episode and they were always courteous towards gardaí.


© The Irish Times/ireland.com