raytheon prisoners: 8 out of 9 out on bail !

gagging orders and other restrictions

News just breaking that the judge at the Bail hearing at Belfast Crown court has granted bail to the 8 people who applied for it. The 9th, a former member of the Republican Socialist Movement and political prisoner who is out on license under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement had chosen to hold his bail application back so as not to jeopardise his comrades' chances. It is understood he will make a bail application on Monday.

The information I have is sketchy, but it is understood that the conditions imposed by the judge include a gagging order on not speaking out against the war or any anti-war activity of any kind, the 9 not being allowed to associate with each other, some kind of exclusionary zone around the Ulster Science and Technology park, where raytheon are located, and a guarantee that they will not interfere with raytheon employees.

Their next bail hearing is on 29 Aug. It is not clear whether their offences have been 'de-scheduled' so that their cases can be heard by a court with a jury. It appears as though this was raised by the defence but that no decision has been made about it. There was also some discussion about the charge of Aggravated Burglary, in relation to a crowbar that was used to get through a door. It appears as though the prosecution has accepted that the crowbar was not intended for harming any person, meaning that the 'Aggravated' can be dropped from the charge. It is still not clear which particular piece of legislation the charges are being brought under.