Protesters Defiant After Court Hands Down Fines For Gm Crop Attacks

 Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK)

 October 25, 2002 10:16pm

 Five GM crops protesters remained defiant yesterday after being fined
 GBP150 each for vandalising a farmer's field on the Black Isle.

 Two of them said they would appeal against the sentence
 and all of them are set to continue their opposition to GM crops.

 Thomas McCaig, 32, of 23 Kenmore Cottages, Bonawe,
 Argyll; Roy Gerard McEwan, 40, of The Lodge, Achnacloich,
 Oban; Iona Henderson, 47, of Woodend, North Kessock;
 Gillian Williamson, 46, of Wyvis Croft Heights of Fodderty,
 Strathpeffer; and Simon Cann, 22, of 5 Ladies Walk,
 Inverness, all admitted wilfully or recklessly destroying or
 damaging the oilseed rape crop at Tullich Farm, Munlochy, on
 April 27 this year.

 Procurator fiscal Roderick Urquhart said that shortly after
 midnight on April 27, a group of people were seen causing
 damage in the field. Williamson had a sickle, while the others
 were hitting the crop with sticks.

 Police were called and they arrested the five.

 Aileen Macinnes, defending, said the five were strongly
 opposed to GM crops and had been kept in custody for a total of 48
 hours.

 Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen said all five had carried out an
 act of vandalism.

 Self-employed seed merchant Rory MacLennan said outside
 the court that he would be appealing against the sentence.

 MacLennan added: "We were just trying to make a point. I don't think it
 was vandalism." Iona Henderson, who works at the Animal Aid
 Centre in Munlochy, said: "I feel the sentence is a bit strong,
 considering we spent a while in custody."


 Copyright (c) 2002 Aberdeen Press & Journal. Source : Financial Times
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