Ploughshares Five have been ACQUITTED - Hope for Fairford Five

south west | peace | news report Sunday November 04, 2007 19:04 by green

Unprecedented, unbelievable... but true. Spread the word

Fantastic news the Ploughshares Five have been ACQUITTED! And apparently the jury must have been unanimous in their verdict.

Warmest congratulations to all involved, and especially the Ploughshares Five themselves - Ciaron, Damien, Deirdre, Karen and Nuin - and their valiant legal team.

Immediate statement from them:

The jury is the conscience of the community chosen randomly from Irish society. The conscience of the community has spoken. The government has no popular mandate in providing the civilian Shannon airport to service the US war machine in its illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. In 1996 in Liverpool the Jury acquittal of the four 'ploughshares' women contributed to the end of arms exports to the Suharto dictatorship in Indonesia and the independence of East Timor.

The decision of this jury should be a message to London, Washington DC and the Dail that Ireland wants no part in waging war on the people of Iraq. Refuelling of US warplanes at Shannon Airport should cease immediately.

Ciaron, Damien, Karen, Deirdre, Nuin

See Indymedia for reports: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77460

This action is very similar to the issues around the Fairford Five, who's trials begin soon. It would be good to think that this bodes well for them and can been seen as a sign of hope that justice will be done!

http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25213