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Pit Stop Ploughshares 5 Free - U.S. Embassy Pissed, Irish Government Exposed!

Ploughshares Support | 27.07.2006 06:48 | Anti-militarism

On Tuesday, a Dublin jury returned a unanimous decision of "not guilty" to free the Pit Stop Ploughshares 5. After 4 hours of deliberation & 13 days of trial the five walked free in comapny of many local & international supporters. The five had been facing a max sentence of 10 years if convicted on a $US2.5million "criminal damage without lawful excuse charge" arising out of their nionviolent diarmament of a U.S. Navy war plane.

"They're in the Pub for Us, We're on the Loose for Them!"

Pit Stop Ploughshares: Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran & Ciaron O'Reilly Acquitted at Dublin's Four Courts, Dublin, Ireland.

www.peaceontrial.com
 ploughsharesireland@yahoo.ie
"Ploughshares Defence Fund"
134 Phibsborough Rd. Phibsborough Dublin 7, Ireland
Ph. 087 918 4552 (mobile)+353 87 918 4552 (international)

On Feb 3rd. 2003, the Pit Stop Ploughshares(Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen fallon, Damien Moran & Ciaron O'Reilly) disarmed a U.S. Navy war plane at Shannon Airport, County Clare, Ireland. The five were arrested & charged with $US 2.5million "criminal damage without lawful excuse" & €100 criminal damage without lawful excuse" for the window of the hangar.

The first trial collapsed on the 6th. day of trial-March '05. The second trial collapsed on the 11th. day of trial Oct '05.

On July 25th.2006 on the 12th.day of thir 3rd. trial they were found not guilty of all charges by a unanimous decicison of the jury...........

CONTENTS

1) Thurs July 27th. 7.30 pm *Public Meeting in Dublin Joshua Casteel, former Abu Ghraib Interrorgator & present member of (U.S.) Iraq Veterans Against the War". This meeting is organised by IAWM.
2) Reports from Pit Stop Ploughshares Post Acquittal Press Conference Wed July 26th.
3) (For the Record) Ploughshares Court Reporter Files Last Report
4) Caoimhe Butterly Heads for Lebanon

5) "Post Acquittal Statement", Drawn Up, Consented On & Released to the Media - Before Pit Stop Ploughshares Five Leave Court 23
6) Revolt Video Link - Defendant Statements Following Acquittal & Remembering the War Dead
7) Irish Indymedia Feature - Background to Pit Stop Ploughshares Action, 3 Trials & Acquital
8) "Every Once in a While", Dave's Photo Essay on Acquital
9) Pit Stop Ploughshares Five, Richard's Photo Essay
10) "The Australian" Coverage of the Acquital.
11) Kathy Kelly Reflects on Closing Speeches in Pit Stop Ploughshares Trial

1) IAWM PUBLIC MEETING *THURS MAY JULY 27TH. -
*JOSHUA CASTEEL, FORMER ABU GHRAIB INTERRORGATOR & NOW A MEMBER OF (U.S.) "IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR".

Public Meeting
7.30 pm Thursday July 27th.
AGTWU Hall, Middle Abbey St. Dublin

Since leaving the U.S. military Joshua has lived at the Catholic Worker Community in South Bend, Indianna. Some members of the Pit Stop Ploughshares will be attending this meeting. At least one of them will be heading on to the anarcho punk gig at the Lower Deck Pub after this meeting!

*More background on public meeting & Joshua, see link.....
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77186

2) REPORTS FROM PIT STOP PLOUGHSHARES POST ACQUITTAL PRESS CONFERENCE, WED JULY 26TH

In response to media reports that the U.S. Embassy has summoned the Irish government to meet in the wake of the Ploughshares acquittal, to discuss its consqequences & response to it.

"I have heard of an ambassador being summoned by a government to provide explanation, but this must be the first time when a government has been summoned by an Ambassador!"
- Joe Noonan Pit Stop Ploughshares, solicitor

"It doesn't surprise me that the U.S. treats Ireland like a colony, it just surprises me they are so public about it!"
-Ciaron O'Reilly, Pit Sop Ploughshares

Check link for more reports on the press conference......
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77486

3) (FOR THE RECORD) COURT REPORTER POSTS LAST REPORT

Many thanx to Justin, Sean, Elaine, Tim, USCW's, Harry, William, Eoin who provide this woderful service to folks wshing to stay in contact with out trials & jubilations.

See link for last report of day of the acquittal....
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77493

4) CAOIMHE BUTTERLY HEADS FOR LEBANON
Former member of the NY CW & co-conspiritor with thePit Stop Ploughshares, Caoimhe Butterly heads for the war torn Lebannon.
See link for more info.....
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77474

5) "POST ACQUITTAL STATEMENT", DRAWN UP, CONSENTED ON & RELEASED TO MEDIA - BEFORE PIT STOP PLOUGHSHARES FIVE LEAVE COURT 23

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 it's 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.

Deirdre Clancy
Nuin Dunlop
Ciaron Fallon
Damien Moran
Ciaron O'Reilly

6) REVOLT VIDEO LINK-DEFENDANT STATMENTS FOLLOWING THE ACQUITTAL & REMEMBERING THE WAR DEAD
Video Link:

 http://video.indymedia.org/en/2006/07/428.shtml

Related Link:  http://www.revoltvideo.blogspot.com

7) IRIISH INDYMEDIA FEATURE (BACKGROUND TO PIT STOP PLOUGHSHARES ACTION, 3 TRIALS & ACQUITAL.
www.indymedia.ie

8) "EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE", DAVE'S PHOTO ESSAY OF ACQUITAL
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77477

9) PIT STOP PLOUGHSHARES 5 ACQUITAL, RICHARD'S PHOTO ESSAY
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77472

10) "THE AUSTRALIAN COVERAGE OF THE ACQUITAL"
 http://sydney.indymedia.org/node/37939

11) KATHY KELLY REFLECTS ON CLOSING SPEECHES
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77455

Ploughshares Support
- Homepage: http://www.peaceontrial.com

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