Fife SSP Members in Court Appearances

Glenrothes SSP Press Release 20th August 2001
Two local SSP members have had court appearances in the past week or so - both of whom were General Election candidates for the SSP back in June.

Morag Balfour, Chair of the Glenrothes branch and the Central Fife candidate was on trial in Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Monday 13th August for her part in February's Big Blockade of Faslane. The Crown abandoned the case when the second of two police officers failed to recognise her, identifying Morag's note-taker instead. There was much celebration, not to mention more than a little hilarity after the case against Morag collapsed.

Morag also appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday 14th August in connection with her part in a direct action which caused the Scottish Parliament to be suspended for 13 minutes on 5th April. The Crown applied for an extension which was given. Trial has been set for the first week in December.

Dougie Kinnear, Chair of the SSP's Kirkcaldy branch was on trial on a charge of Breach of the Peace and Resisting Arrest relating to February's Big Blockade. Dougie, who formerly served on thePolaris submarine HMS Renown, was arrested for CROSSING THE ROAD! The Justice of the Peace at Helensburgh District Court listened to one and a half hours of evidence from the prosecution witnesses - the many discrepancies in which were expertly and exhaustively exposed by solicitor Bobby Frazer, before ignoring clear statements from Dougie and his defence witness that Dougie had tried to negotiate with police to avoid arrest.

Dougie was found guilty and fined £240.