Up-coming protest at Top Oil in Galway

galway | anti-war / imperialism | news report Tuesday October 28, 2003 13:39 by Sylvia Pankhurst - Eco Soc

(in solidarity with Pitstop ploughshares)

In solidarity wth the Pitstop ploughshares Five, who have a pre-trial hearing on November 3rd for the "crime" of disarming a military plane, the NUI Galway Ecology Society is holding a protest at the Galway Oil Company offices on Forster Street (the local wing of Top Oil).

In solidarity wth the Pitstop ploughshares Five, who have a pre-trial hearing on November 3rd for the "crime" of disarming a military plane, the NUI Galway Ecology Society is holding a protest at the Galway Oil Company offices on Forster Street. Galway Oil being the local branch of Top Oil, the company which re-fuels the US military at Shannon. Meet up in Eyre Square at 1pm Monday, November, 3rd. Organising meeting followed by films about the Pitstop ploughshares and such like is on Thursday evening, 7pm, in the Arts Millenuim building of NUI Galway. There is also a planned protest at the Amien Street, Dublin, Top Oil filling station on this day, and many vigils, pickets and protests in solidarity with the 5 going on across the world.

The Pit Stop ploughshares have called for solidarity vigils at Irish Embassies & Consuls and sites of significance on Monday November 3rd.

Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran and Ciaron O'Reilly will appear for mention in the Four Courts on Nov. 3rd. They face to counts of criminal damage (200 euro & 2.5 million euro) and a maximum sentence of 10 years if convicted at trial. Charges arise out of their Feb. 4th. nonviolent disarmament of a U.S. Navy War Plane at Shannon Airport (County Clare) en route to the war on Iraq.

The five hope to be accomPAnied to court by Gareth Pierce who freed the "Guilford 4", "Birmingham 6" and successfully defended the "Seeds of Hope ploughshares" and "Quaker ploughshares" (see www.ploughsharesactions.org). It is expected a trial date will be set on Nov. 3rd. The five have been on bail (banned form a mile radius of the U.S. embassy, banned from County Clare, required to sign on twice a week at a Garda Station).