YOUTUBE (3.37) - "Hey Presto - Ploughshares Movement Re-equipped from Garda Issued Potato Bag!
 http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=xvaA4kfrcJI





BACKGROUND

On Feb 3rd '03, 5 Catholic Workers -Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran and Ciaron O'Reilly made their way into Shannon Airport, County Clare/Ireland, to disarm a U.S. Navy warplane en route to the invasion of Iraq. Known as the "Pitstop Ploughshares" they were arrested, their hammers and shrine to the war dead confiscated, charged with $U.S. 2 1/2 million "criminal damage", they were initially held on remand at Limerick Prison, released on strict bail conditions and were put on trial 3 times at Dublin's historic Four Courts over the next 3 years.
www.peaceontrial.com


In August 06 they were acquitted unanimously by a jury of all charges. In early '08 Cork lawyer Joe Noonan, who had defended the Pitstops in all three trials, made application on behalf of O'Reilly to the Ennis court for return of all property. The Garda opposed the return of the Ploughshares hammers, although two of the hammers had been previously returned by the F.B.I. and British police following their use in at least six ploughsares actions in those countries (all but one of the actions having resulted in conviction and jail time for the ploughshares participants).


A hearing was set for July 25th. 08, the second anniversary of the Pitstop Four Courts acquittal, for the application hearing in front of Judge Mangan in Ennis Court, County Clare. This was the same judge that had imposed the strict original bail conditions on the Pitstops in Feb. 03. Days before the hearing the Garda dropped their opposition. O'Reilly returned to Shannon Garda station, where the Pitstops had been originally taken on arrest in 03, to accept the return of the hammers and other property. The hammers were returned to O'Reilly in a Garda issued potato bag  http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88451 quickly identified as such by one of "Hammer Pick Up Support Crew" who had grown up on a farm in Kilkenny.


"HAMMERED BY THE IRISH"
BY HARRY BROWNE

Harry Browne's recently published (AK/Counterpunch, U.S.A.) book reflects on the formation, disarmament action, trials and acquittal of the Pitstop Ploughshares. The treatment of the group by the Irish state, media and mainstream anti-war movement.

Harry Browne's book "Hammered by the Irish" is presently available from the following sources.....

-In Ireland (real soon)- from Afri/Ciaron O'Reilly/Harry Browne (cheapest way of getting the book if you're in Ireland!)

-Internationally/online - Catholic Worker Bookstore  http://www.catholicworker.com/bookstore/index.html
*AKPress  http://www.akpress.org/2008/items/hammeredbytheirishakpress
*Counterpunch www.counterpunch.org

-In England at Anarchist Bookfair (London Catholic Worker Bookstall), Saturday Oct 18th.  http://anarchistbookfair.org/index.html



***THE FOLLOWING EVENTS RELATE TO RECALLING THE PITSTOP ACTION AND "HAMMERED BY THE IRISH BOOK"

*Friday Sept. 26th. 1pm -Irish Film Institute, Temple Bar, Dublin
Screening of "Route Irish" as part of the "Stranger than Fiction" Documentary Film Festival
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88889
*Thursday Oct 9th, Doors 7.30pm, Lower Deck Pub, Portobello, Dublin
"Hammered by the Irish" Benefit Gig for Anti-War Prisoners
 http://www.indymedia.ie/article/89067
*Saturday Oct. 18th 11 am at the London Anarchist Bookfair Room EB2
Ciaron O'Reilly speaks to the Pitstop Ploughshares action and Harry Browne's "Hammered by the Irish".
 http://anarchistbookfair.org/whatson.html