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Trial of Catholic Worker Five Begins Oct 24 at the Four Courts international |
anti-war / imperialism |
feature
 Sunday October 23, 2005 21:42 by Paul MacGiolla Bán
 Daily Peace Walk in Solidarity at 9am from The Spire Indymedia photo essays of Ploughshares’ anti-war vigils Saturday‘s Vigil at College Green | Still on the Loose… Daily vigils last week | Rebel Priest Joins Ploughshares Vigil | Keep Death Off Our Runways | Vigil For Jean Charles de Menezes, killed by UK police on London Underground | Budapest Solidarity | London Solidarity | Melbourne Solidarity | WashingtonD.C. solidarity “Together with Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon and Damien Moran, Ciaron is one of the group known as the Pit Stop Ploughshares. In early February 2003, these five took part in the non-violent disarmament of a US Navy War Plane at Shannon airport. They have been charged with US$2.5 million damage to the plane, which was forced to return to Texas rather than continue its journey to Iraq. Their trial begins on Monday at the Four Courts“.
The festival is mostly attended by Christians, but there is little in the way of in-your-face religion. Some of the events have a very Christian focus, but there is plenty going on with a more universal appeal. And if sometimes I get frustrated with the multitude of ‘Make Poverty History’ T-shirts, there is also a more radical side to the festival. One example is the Belfast religious community Ikon, who tackled the taboo topic of homosexuality head-on with their session of worship, Queer. And another radical side to the festival was the talk by Australian peace activist Ciaron O’Reilly. Together with Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon and Damien Moran, Ciaron is one of the group known as the Pit Stop Ploughshares. In early February 2003, these five took part in the non-violent disarmament of a US Navy War Plane at Shannon airport. They have been charged with US$2.5 million damage to the plane, which was forced to return to Texas rather than continue its journey to Iraq. Their trial begins on Monday at the Four Courts.
And yet the Catholic Workers do not believe that they can stop the war, at least, not on their own. Ciaron has an interesting philosophy on activism. He does not believe that an activist elite can change the world. This is why he and the other Ploughshares are willing to face up to their action, and do not apologise or retreat from what they have done. This is why Ciaron speaks of the need to ‘bear witness’ to the action, by acknowledging it, and remembering it without regret. As he said at a solidarity night for the Ploughshares in September, while the Irish state would prefer to bring them ‘kicking and screaming’ through the court system, instead they are going ‘singing and dancing’. The Ploughshares’ action confronts Irish participation in this war, and prevents it from being shoved under the carpet. Their action seeks to bring the war to centre stage, and is a constant reminder of how Ireland facilitates the US military interference in Iraqi affairs. They make it impossible for denial and avoidance, and bring the war home to Ireland. And their action is a challenge to the rest of us. Their action does not only challenge us to take similar action, although it certainly does that. But short of this, there is plenty more to be done. On a daily level, their action challenges us to keep the war at the forefront of our minds. We are challenged to find ways to keep it in the picture - to talk about it, to remember its victims. Is it something we have forgotten? Is it something we keep on our own agenda? Of course there are other issues and campaigns that deserve our energy and attention. But the US and UK-led war in Iraq is surely one of the most central issues in the world today. It is a modern Vietnam. After 100,000 people marched in Dublin in February 2003 and were then ignored, it is easy to feel powerless, and to feel that there is little we can do to oppose this war. But this war still has the potential to unite a generation of people who are sickened by the state of the modern world. One of the main challenges and opportunities presented by the Ploughshares trial next week is that of solidarity. At the beginning of the month, the Ploughshares sent out an appeal for solidarity. In taking their action at Shannon, they took a huge risk, and put the issue of the war ahead of their own personal comfort. And those of us who respect and appreciate what they did have a duty to show them our support. They have held weekly vigils at the GPO throughout the summer to draw attention to Ireland’s role in the Iraq war. They also held a daily vigil during this last week. From next Monday, the first day of the trial, they will meet at the Spire on O’Connell St. from 0830 each day for a daily vigil and Peace Walk down to the Four Courts for their trial. It may be early in the morning, but they deserve our solidarity and support.
The Ploughshares are about more than just anti-war activism. They are trying to play a role in building a community of activists. Ciaron and Damien are involved in advocacy for the homeless. The Ploughshares house on the South Circular Road is also used as a space of hospitality for activists. I have been fed and watered there many times after a day’s community gardening in Dolphin’s Barn. They have also provided beds for visitors to Dublin from the Rossport Solidarity Camp and from the homeless campaign in Belfast. Now it is their turn to be in need of solidarity and support. As they say themselves, they want to confront the US, UK and Irish institutions which are taking part in waging war in Iraq:
More Indymedia Ireland Anti-War Activity Coverage: |
In August Ciaron O’Reilly of the Pit Stop Ploughshares spoke at the Greenbelt festival in the UK. As their trial begins, this essay is a reflection on his talk, and of how the actions of the Catholic Worker Five challenge all of us. The war still rages in Iraq and the situation is deteriorating, without any sign of the US-led coalition withdrawing. While the mass media presents little challenge to US use of Shannon, the Ploughshares trial keeps Irish participation in the war at the forefront of our minds.
At Greenbelt, Ciaron spoke with his usual calmness and restraint. A fellow ’Catholic Worker’ and friend of Ciaron’s opened and closed the talk with a bit of music, and in between Ciaron reflected on the Ploughshares action and the war in Iraq. As always, no matter what troubles he has gone through as a result of his actions, the focus is on the troubles of the Iraqi people. Ireland’s Shannon Airport has been a pit stop for American soldiers on their way to Iraq for two years, with 25,000 troops currently passing through Shannon every month. Ciaron spoke of the imperative to act in response to this, in order to prevent loss of Iraqi life. Though the Pit Stop Ploughshares could not hope to stop all the planes passing through Shannon, at least by making one plane turn back to Texas, they hope to have caused some to be alive who would otherwise be dead - and somehow reduced the uncounted Iraqi victims of the bombs from US planes of war.
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Comments (36 of 36)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36Best of luck to all the five, can't make it along to the court so would be very grateful if people could give us updates here on indymedia as the day goes on?
Thanks so much
Faster Really wanted to make it this morning but seem to have contracted the bird-flu or maybe just the normal one.
My absolute solidarity with the 5 brave people who today stand against an imperialist war machine,a corrupt state,an unjust legal system and an apathetic society that opposes but allows wars for money and oil to continue unchecked.
I fnot my person,my thoughts are with them
Justice for the CW5!
Just received a text saying that a judge has been appointed, waiting to choose jury, trial starts at 2pm.
Hope to all goes well, keep sending the updates, I'm on computer all day so will post be anything I receive.
Clare
Around 50 or so people gathered this morning at the spire, OConnell street to show solidarity with the five people facing imprisonment by the Irish State for actions that many think were right. Many of the people assembled had travelled long distances to come show their support. Some had travelled from America, Scotland and beyond. All were gathered to demonstrate that there are people still who oppose the Irish states complicy in Iraqi murders.
The single file proccession from O'Connell street attracted considerable support and goodwill from passers by as it made it way sombrely to the courts.
At the present moment people are still gathered outside the courts. A recent text message suggests that a Judge has been appointed and they are waiting to choose the jury. Trial starts at 2 pm.
Maybe if people are free they could come down for a while to show their support for the accused.
100, 000 people marched recently on the streets of Dublin in protest against the war for oil.
I wonder sometimes have they gone away?
Is reporting on this banned or something?
Good luck CW5.
Solidarity from London:
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72622
Solidarity from Melbourne:
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72631
Solidarity from Budapest:
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72621
Update and photos from Day One:
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72630
sometimes a spark can create a fire.
let us remember Rosa Parks as the PSP5 are in court this week.
- - -
Martin Luther King wrote in his 1958 book, Stride Toward Freedom:
'Mrs. Parks’s arrest was the precipitating factor rather than the cause of the protest. The cause lay deep in the record of similar injustices...Actually no one can understand the action of Mrs. Parks unless he realizes that eventually the cup of endurance runs over, and the human personality cries out, 'I can take it no longer.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks
also
Interview...
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/par0bio-1
The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute
http://www.rosaparks.org/
She broke the law for a higher one (1913 - 2005)
It's undeniably true that the massive fawscism that's spreqading around the world started here in the United States and I'm very worry to see that Ireland -- and Australia, Canada, Spain, and so many other countries -- are seeing a rise in George Bush fascist ideologies.
The brutal oppression and suppression of the rule of law, of Civil rights, Constitutional rights, and human rights that we're seeing inflicted against the American people is somethingf we're also seeing in numerous countries around the world, all apparently in response to this war criminal regime here in the United States.
I -- and so many other Democrats -- watched in horror as the Irish government s3ent tqanks and heavily armed soldiers to defend George W. Bush when he flew to Ireland for a "visit." The Irish government was willing to slaughter its own citizens to keep a war criminal who has committed war crime atrocities against humanity from being captured and put on trial -- either in Ireland or by getting dragged off to the Hague for trial.
You can't not believe, people of Ireland, how sad halfd the people of America are and how much misery this fascist regime has caused us -- aside from the indiscriminate slaughter of innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan. Half of the American people are ashamed of this fascist regime and we're even more ashamed of the fact that our government -- comprised of Republican Nazis -- has failed. Not only has the government failed America, it's failed the whole world.
There was a time when the United States claimed it was "the world leader in freedom and Democracy." We used to be call "the land of the free." International laws against torture, child slavery, international child rape crimes, and the Rule of Law used to hold sway.
There was also a time when America had the concept of "treason" and "war crimes." Not since the Presidential Election was hijacked in 2000 have wqe had a legitimate government and not since then have we had a government that even paid lip service to these high ideals.
And while so many hundreds of millions of Americans are horrofied at this fawscist Bush regime's atrocities against humanity, and while we're sorry -- so very sorry -- for what America has done and continues to do around the world, at the same time Americans have to admit that the fault is entirely ours. We've done nothing to stop this brutal dictatorship and it's because we're a nation of cowards.
We have a Constitution that dictates the free ownerwship of firearms in this country putatively so that we can rise up in arms and restore our Constitutional Republic and our Democracy in the event the government does exactly what this one has done.
We haven't risen up because we're cowards. And while we as Amertican people continue to suffer for it -- this fawscist regime inflicted "USA PATRIOT Act" against American citizens first -- the rest of the world also must suffer for our cowardice.
My opinions only and only my opinions.
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72649
The site of the U.S. Federal trial against four Catholic Workers who non-violently protested the war in Iraq.
http://www.stpatricksfour.org/
Can't make it up to Dublin, but we are with you all the way!
Hi Fredric, I dont know what coverage you were watching if you saw the Irish government sending tanks to defend GWB, it would be an amazing feat as the Irish army doesnt have any tanks..........
The Irish defence forces do have tanks, Scorpions I think, but I'll accept correction. But what were actually depolyed in Shannon were MOWAGs, which is a type of APC.
The commander is probably still peeling spuds somewhere for letting himself be surrounded by a bunch of peaceniks.
If you don't believe it, there's a link to the footage taken by an Indymedia videohead somewhere on the archives of this site. Maybe someone can post the link...
Link to Videos
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=69282
'That Tank'
Surrounded!
Anti-war protesters trial begins
A jury has been sworn in for the trial of five anti-war protesters accused of damaging a US navy aircraft at Shannon airport in February 2003. The trial will begin this morning at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and is likely to continue for two weeks.
Judge Michael White told the jury panel the offences with which the accused are charged arose out of anti-war protests in relation to the war in Iraq. He asked that any panel member with strong opinions on the issue which could hinder them from reaching an impartial and just verdict should make their feelings known before being sworn in.
The five accused are Damien Moran and Ciarán O'Reilly, both South Circular Road, Dublin, and both working with homeless people; Nuin Dunlop, a US citizen and counsellor, Walkinstown Road, Dublin; Karen Fallon, a Scottish marine biologist, South Circular Road, Rialto, and Deirdre Clancy, a copy editor of Castle Avenue, Clontarf. All accused pleaded not guilty
Case opens against Shannon protesters
The five anti-war protesters accused of criminally damaging a US navy aircraft will say they acted in defence of others, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury has heard.
Implements used to damage the aircraft were engraved with Celtic symbols and slogans.
Opening the case, Conor Devally SC, prosecuting, said that there was "no huge issue" on the facts of the case but rather whether the five felt they had "lawful excuse".
Damien Moran and Ciarán O'Reilly, South Circular Road, Rialto, Dublin; Nuin Dunlop from the US, Walkinstown, Dublin; Karen Fallon from Scotland, South Circular Road, and Deirdre Clancy, Clontarf, Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval aircraft, property of the US government, and to door panels, property of Aer Rianta, at Shannon airport in February 2003.
The jury heard that a C40 or 737 aircraft, which could convey cargo and personnel, had arrived at Shannon from Texas.
Sgt Michael O'Connell said he was on security duty at a maintenance hangar in Shannon which housed the aircraft. At about 3.45am he heard glass break and then saw five people, one with a large axe and the others with hammers, enter the hangar.
He ran towards them and shouted "stop". Sgt O'Connell said he held his arms out but they ran around him. He "pleaded with them to stop" and called Shannon Garda for urgent assistance.
Sgt O'Connell said he was "terrorised by their appearance" and heard them say words which might have included "God".
Mr O'Reilly was "belting an axe into the front nose cone of the plane" as Mr Moran hit the side engine cover with a hammer, he said. The three women were at the back hitting the exhaust pipe and an image of the Texas flag with three lump hammers as well as an inflatable Tricolour hammer.
Sgt O'Connell said he struggled with both men and managed to take their weapons from them. They offered no further resistance. The women handed over their hammers and all five knelt in a circle to recite the rosary.
Sgt O'Connell agreed with Michael O'Higgins SC, defending Ms Dunlop and Ms Clancy, that they were "polite and co-operative" and showed no malice. "They came in to disarm the aircraft," said Mr O'Higgins, to which Sgt O'Connell replied: "I say they came in to cause criminal damage."
Items including copies of the Bible and Koran, rosary beads, Muslim prayer beads and photographs purporting to depict the effects on children of the previous war in Iraq were found forming a "shrine" at the side of the aircraft.
Cmdr James Nichols, who arrived in Ireland on the aircraft before the damage was done, agreed with Roderick O'Hanlon SC, defending Mr Moran and Mr O'Reilly, that it was unable to fly safely following the incident.
Cmdr Nichols said he was unaware of the aircraft's mission following its stop in Shannon but then agreed that he was aware from an earlier trial that its original mission was to fly to Sigonella, a US military base on Sicily.
Det Garda John Duffy of Ennis Garda station told Brendan Nix SC, defending Ms Fallon, that to the best of his knowledge, no US military aircraft were checked at Shannon "by the police or Army of the Republic of Ireland".
The hearing continues before Judge Donagh McDonagh and a jury
Trial of Shannon protesters continues
The trial of five anti-war protesters accused of criminally damaging a United States naval aircraft continued in legal argument at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
All of the accused pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval aircraft, property of the US government, and to glass door panels, property of Aer Rianta, at Shannon airport, Clare on February 3rd, 2003.
The five accused are Damien Moran (25) and Ciaron O'Reilly (45), both living on South Circular Road, Rialto and both working with homeless people; Nuin Dunlop (34), a US citizen and counsellor living on Walkinstown Road, Dublin; Karen Fallon (34), a Scottish marine biologist living on South Circular Road, Rialto; and Deirdre Clancy (35), a copy editor of Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin.
The jury earlier heard that Ciaron O'Reilly was "belting an axe into the front nose cone of the plane" as Damien Moran hit the side engine cover with a hammer.
The three women were at the back of the plane hitting the exhaust pipe and an image of the Texas flag with three lump hammers as well as an inflatable Tricolour hammer.
http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2005/10/7434.php
If the ploughshares go down, we should all head to shannon, and even if they don't.
Remember this place?
Hope to catch up on proceedings over the weekend.
Stay strong. Ye are an inspiration. Thanks for spearheading the movement which should be the responsibility of the whole nation.
Ploughshares Retrial Day 4 - Photos
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72687
Ploughshares Trial Day 4 - Video & Court Report Summary
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72688
Chomsky on the Ploughshares 5 Action
A private e-mail
A message from Noam Chomsky in support of the Ploughshares 5.
It is a privilege to be able to join you, at least in words from a distance, as you come to trial for the crime of living up to the Nuremberg principles that were constructed by the US and Britain to convict Nazi war criminals for such crimes as participating in the "preemptive war" against Norway (Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop). The most extreme of these crimes, in the eyes of the prosecutors, was "the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole": the crime of aggression.
That crime was clearly defined by US Chief of Counsel Robert Jackson as the act of some state of "Invasion of its armed forces, with or without a declaration of war, of the territory of another State." As Justice Jackson memorably continued, "If certain acts of violation of treaties are crimes, they are crimes whether the United States does them or whether Germany does them, and we are not prepared to lay down a rule of criminal conduct against others which we would not be willing to have invoked against us.... We must never forget that the record on which we judge these defendants is the record on which history will judge us tomorrow. To pass these defendants a poisoned chalice is to put it to our own lips as well."
And the fundamental legacy of Nuremberg for all people is that they must act to prevent the supreme crime and all of the accumulated evil that follows, which it is unnecessary to enumerate in the present case.
The St. Patrick Four were tried in the US for a crime similar to yours, and the jury, to its credit, accepted their Nuremberg defense and acquitted them of felony conspiracy charges. I trust that you too will be honored for your courageous and principled stand.
Noam Chomsky
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72704
http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2005/10/7485.php
http://radio.indymedia.org/news/?category=&medium=video
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051031/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
Dear all.
We a group of people from Copenhagen wish to send you a message of support, that we are thinking of you and believe you are doing well in court . It has been a pleasure to read the good Court reports and the strong statements therein. Thank you very much to the court rapporteur.
A delegation went to the Irish Embassy of Copenhagen yesterday with a statement. The Embassador were not present, but the statement is sent.
We have not translated this statement yet. However should it be helpful for you to have a translations sent, then please mail back.
Most of the debate on the web-sites and the courts reports is translated to Danish. It will be available today or tomorrow on the following web-pages in Danish: www.fredsvagten.dk and www.kpnet.dk.
Keep up the good spirit and keep going.
Good luck and all the best
In peace
Inge, Jens, Angelika, Doris, Majken, Arne, Silas, Hannah, Catrine and Christian.
Here is the statement to the Irish Embassy in Copenhagen.
Irlands Ambassade
Overordentlig og Befuldmægtiget
Ambassadør, hr. James Bennan,
Østbanegade 21
2100 København Ø
Kære hr. Bennan.
I anledning af en verserende retssag mod Pit Stop Ploughshares, Deidre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Ciaron O'Reilly og Damien Moran i ‘The Four Courts' i Dublin, skal undertegnende delegerede hermed overbringe støtte til de fem aktivister, der i februar måned 2003 forsøgte at beskytte liv og udføre deres borgerpligt.
De fem anklagede har på ikke voldelig vis gjort, hvad de kunne for at forhindre Irsk deltagelse i krigen i Irak. Internationale love står højt hævet over nationale love, når det gælder det individuelle ansvar for krigsforbrydelser, og når det gælder enkelt personer, som prøver at forhindre sådanne inhumane handlinger. Vi håber De vil viderebringe vores støtteerklæring til den Irske Regering og andre relevante myndigheder, og oplyse dem om de international love og konventioner.
Irland stillede Shannon Lufthavn til rådighed for USA’s krigsmaskineri og troppetransporter i den ulovligt anstiftede angrebskrig mod Irak. En krig, hvor USA og allierede har nedbrudt og overtrådt de nok vigtigste internationale humanitære love og konventioner ved:
- Planlæggelse, forberedelse og gennemførelse af den højeste forbrydelse, aggressionskrig, i modstrid med FN’s Charter og Nürnberg-principperne.
- Angreb på Iraks civilbefolkning og civile infrastruktur.
- Brug af uproportionel magt og vilkårlige våbensystemer.
- Forsømmelse af beskyttelsen af civile liv under militære aktiviteter og under den efterfølgende besættelse.
- Brug af vold med døden til følge mod fredelige protesterende.
- Gennemførelse af afstraffelse uden anklager eller retssager, herunder kollektiv afstraffelse.
- Anvendelse af tortur og grufuld, inhuman eller nedværdigende behandling af irakiske soldater og civile.
- Omskrivning af lovene i et land, som er blevet illegalt invaderet og besat.
- Forsætlig destruktion af miljøet.
- Aktiv skabelse af forhold hvorunder den irakiske kvindes status for alvor er blevet degraderet.
- Svigt af beskyttelsen af menneskehedens rige arkæologiske og kulturelle arv i Irak.
- Hindring af retten til information, herunder censur af Iraks medier.
- Redefinering af tortur - en overtrædelse af international lov – tilladelse af brug af tortur og ulovlige arrestationer.
De anklager, der er rettet mod Pit Stop Ploughshares aktivisterne er set i dette lys helt uberettiget. Deres handling var netop for at afværge disse ovennævnte handlinger i at blive begået af USA og koalitionen af de villige.
Pit Stop Ploughshares har ikke handlet kriminelt. Tvært i mod skulle de aldrig have været anklaget, for der er ikke noget, de bør forsvare overhovedet. De har overholdt de højeste love, og gjort deres pligt som borgere i et internationalt samfund, hvor international humanitær lov pålægger borgere at beskytte hinanden imod ulovlige overgreb fra statsmagters side.
De, der burde forsvare deres handlinger og skulle have været stillet for Den internationale Krigsforbryderdomstol for længst, er derimod statslederne, der har medvirket til ovennævnte krigsforbrydelsers gennemførelse.
30. oktober 2005
Underskrevet af medlemmer af Fredsvagten i København: Jens Nielsen, A. Matsen, Inge Paaske og pv. Doris Kruckenberg: Ulla Røder. Medlemmer af Danmarks Kommunistiske Ungdomsforbund: Christian Dalgaard, Silas Ørting, Cathrine Pedersen, Hanna Grenå. Som medlem af Kvinder for Fred og Aldrig mere krig – Dansk Afdeling af War Resisters International og p.v. af medlemmer af Aldrig mere Krig Arne Hansen og
Dear Ciaron,
Please know you and the other ploughshares friends are in our prayers during your trial. Last Wednesday, Oct. 26, several of us from Dorothy Day House, three from Jonah House and a Buddhist nun friend, held a solidarity vigil for you for one hour at the Irish Embassy in DC. Needless to say the Embassy knew we were there to the point where they called the (not so) Secret Service, three of whom watched over us for the hour. Unfortunately, the photos that were taken did not come out due to technical difficulties with the Jonah House digital camera. We'll do better next time. If you send out current updates please include me, thanks.
I was in Texas last week--do you still remember doing time in TX. Well last week I was part of the Journey of Hope tour with Muder Victim Family members who oppose the death penalty. There were also death row survivors with. We spoke in many schools, churces and othe venues. There was an execution the day I arrived. TX, as you may know, has committed 351 out of the 988 executed since 1976.
Last night Colleen and I waited for five hours with tens of thousands of others to pay tribute to Rosa Parks at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. It was a deeply moving experience. Today we were at the Pentagon for our weekly vigil.The Pentagon is still there and so are we.
We keep our eyes on the prize and hold on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A big hug to you!!!!
God bless you!
Art
http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/7527.php
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72780
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72784
The 8th day of the Pitstop Ploughshares trial at Dublin's Four Courts consisted solely of legal argument in the absence of the jury regarding whether the jury could consider a 'lawful excuse' defence to commit damage to property of another.
Judge MacDonagh will make his ruling on Monday morning next (Nov. 7th) in Court 23 at 10.30am.
The jury will then hear (on Monday) closing statements from the prosecuting and defence counsels. This should take up to at least 3/3.30pm. The judge will subsequently charge the jury on Monday afternoon (hopefully) and send them away to deliberate on a unanimous verdict. If they cannot reach one they will be asked to return with a 10-2 majority to convict or acquit.
The jury have been asked by the judge to bring an overnight bag so the verdict will hopfully be in before noon on Tuesday Nov. 8th.
The daily peace walk to remember the Iraq War dead, from the Spire to the Four Courts, will continue Monday and Tuesday. We will gather at the Spire from 8.30am. The Peace walk will begin at 9.15pm or so.
All are welcome. Placards remembering the victims of the war will be provided.
Shannon 5 Trial Day 8 - Jury to give verdict on Monday/Tuesday
by Court Reporter
The 8th day of the Pitstop Ploughshares trial at Dublin's Four Courts consisted solely of legal argument in the absence of the jury, mainly regarding whether the jury could consider a 'lawful excuse' defence in the context that the activists commited damage to property of another in order to save lives and property.
Deirdre Clancy, Damien Moran, Nuin Dunlop, Ciaron O'Reilly, and Karen Fallon have been charges on two counts of criminal damage arising from the their disarmament of a US Navy plane prior to the US invasion of Iraq, at Shannon Airport on February 3rd, 2003.
They face up to a maximum of ten years in prison if convicted
The judge presiding over the case, Mr. Donagh MacDonagh, who happens to be the great grandson of 1916 republican revoluionary and Easter Rising proclamation signatory Thomas MacDonagh, will make his ruling regarding whether the jury can consider the accused's defence in law, on Monday morning next (Nov. 7th) in Court 23 at 10.30am.
The jury will then hear (on Monday) closing statements from the prosecuting and defence counsels. This should take up to at least 3/3.30pm. The judge will subsequently charge the jury on Monday afternoon (hopefully) and send them away to deliberate on a unanimous verdict. If they cannot reach one they will be asked to return with a 10-2 majority to convict or acquit.
The jury have been asked by the judge to bring an overnight bag so the verdict will hopfully be in before noon on Tuesday Nov. 8th.
The trial has heard testimony from the five accused as to their honest beliefs for engaging in disabling the plane. The jury also heard testimony from Iraq war combat veteran Jimmy Massey on how he witnessed breaches of the Geneva Conventions, including the indiscriminate killing of at least 36 innocent civilians. The Genva Conventions Act of 1962 enshrines the International rules of engagement in war contained within the Geneva Conventions. Mr. Geoff Oxley OBE, a retired Royal Airforce Group Captain and military expert, explained to the court that logistics supply planes were a legitimate target in a time of war and that the decommisioning of a US Navy C-40A plane would initiate an unpredictable chain of events which would help save lives and property.
Former UN Assistant Secretary General Denis Halliday testified as to the destruction of Iraqi lives from the UN economic sanctions and how the US/UK engaged in a softening up process of aerial bombardment at least 6 months prior to the official invasion on March 20th '03. Kathy Kelly, co-founder of Voices in the Wilderness, a group extabished in 1996 to stand in solidarity with Iraqi civilians and to break the sanctions by supplying essential medications, spoke on how she met the five accused at the annual Feile Bhride peacemaking conference in Co. Kildare one week before they acted at Shannon and two days before she returned to Baghdad, Iraq.
The peace walk to remember the Iraq War dead, from the Spire to the Four Courts, will continue Monday and Tuesday next. We will gather at the Spire from 8.30am. The Peace walk will begin at 9.15pm or so.
All are welcome to participate. Placards remembering the victims of the war will be provided.
More details on the last 8 days of trial can be found at the following links:
www.peaceontrial.com
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72668
Thank you Court Reporter for your great work in spreading the word.
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72832
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=72875