Pit Stop Ploughshares Update

dublin | anti-war / imperialism | event notice Wednesday January 21, 2004 12:26 by Ploughshares

They're on Trial for Us - We're on the Loose for Them!

IRELAND - January 26th - Pit Stop Ploughshares Back in Court!

IRELAND - January 26th - Pit Stop Ploughshares Back in Court!
Five Catholic Worker peace activists, known as "The Pit Stop Ploughshares" are due to appear before Judge Mathews at Green St. Special Criminal Courts in Dublin on Monday January 26th.

Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran and Ciaron O'Reilly face two charges of criminal damage ($US2 1/2 million and 200 euros). These charges arise out of their nonviolent disarmament of a U.S. Navy war plane at Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, Ireland on February 3rd. 2003. The five claim to be inspired by the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah "to beat swords into ploughshares" and the commands and example of Jesus to defend life with nonviolent resistance. At the time, the U.S. Navy was integral in enforcing genocidal sanctions on Iraq and was mobilising for an escalated bombing campaign, invasion and occupation of Iraq. In 2003, Shannon Airport facilitated 125,855 U.S. troops en transit to invade Iraq. The major criminal damage charge faced by the five, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

DECEMBER APPEARANCE

The Pit Stop Ploughshares appeared before Judge Mathews at the Four Courts in December, 2003. Their defence team presented motions of discovery in relation to expanded police evidence. The motions related to the purpose of the disarmed U.S. Navy war plane. The Prosecution opposed these motions arguing that a relevant defence was not available as there was a lack of "immediacy" in relation to those threatend by the plane. Judge Mathews responded that he didn't see how geographical distance denied "immediacy" as Prime Minister Blair had taken Britain to war claiming they were under "immediate" threat from Iraq! Judge Mathews later ruled in favour of defence requests and instructed the Prosecution to approach U.S. and Irish authorities and return with the information related to the purpose of the plane by January 26th. Judge Mathews is sitting at Green St. Special Criminal Courts in this present session. A trial date for the Pit Stop Ploughshares has yet to be announced.

STATEMENT

Ciaron O'Reilly of the Pit Stop Ploughshares stated, "Hundreds of young Americans who passed through Shannon Airport have returned home in body bags, thousands with amputations and other serious injuries, thousands have been withdrawn from Iraq rendered psychologicaly unfit to function!

The Iraqi maimed and slain remain uncounted, their civil society smashed and infrastructure pillaged by U.S. corporations. We, like many other anti-war resisters in the U.S., Britain and Israel remain on trial for speaking truth to power with nonviolent noncooperation. Shannon Airport remains a pit stop for the U.S. war machine!"

MONDAY 26TH. - Join in Solidarity with the Pit Stop Ploughshares

9 A.M. - Gather at the Spire, G.P.O., O'Connel St., Dublin

* Banners and placards will be provided by the defendants.

**Wear black in memory of the war dead.

10 a.m. Solidarity Vigil Outside the Green St. Special Criminal Courts