Blair Seeks to Avoid Witness Call-Up in War Protest Case

[cal04]

Prime Minister Tony Blair is today expected to make an application to prevent him from having to appear in court after he was summonsed by the mother-in-law of a sergeant killed in Iraq as part of a protest against the war. Pat Blackburn called on Mr Blair to be a witness in her case of income tax evasion after she withheld payments in protest at the war.

Mrs Blackburn has said that she has given the outstanding £15,000 to an independent stakeholder to cover the bill but is refusing to hand over the money to the Inland Revenue until Mr Blair resigns or shows her evidence of Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction.

Her son-in-law, Sergeant Les Hehir, 34, of the Royal Artillery, was killed when the US Sea Knight helicopter he was aboard crashed south of the Kuwait border on March 21, 2003. Sgt Hehir, from Poole, Dorset, left his wife Sharon and their two sons, Oliver, now aged seven, and William, now five. The case is due to be heard at Weymouth County Court at 2pm today although Mr Blair is not expected to attend.

A spokeswoman for the court said a summons had been sent to Downing Street requesting Mr Blair’s attendance but added that an application is to be heard requesting permission for his absence prior to today’s hearing. Mrs Blackburn said she had written numerous letters to Mr Blair, including one dated May 3, 2003, which states: “The unlawful and unsanctioned war in Iraq was privately authorised by yourself and President Bush to boost both of your political egos and ambitions.” It adds: “Now, Mr Blair, go rot in Hell.”

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4718514

[Spazito]

1. Wow, you GO, Mrs. Blackburn!

I love that a SUMMONS had been sent to Downing Street, I hope it is only the beginning of what is to come regarding the downfall of blair.

[Oversea Visitor]

2. Beautiful

go get them. Maybe sometimes to learn here hey...

:kick:

[Cha]

3. Mrs Blackburn has the same

feeling over there in England that tons of us have right here in the good ol' USA..

"Mrs Blackburn said she had written numerous letters to Mr Blair, including one dated May 3, 2003, which states: “The unlawful and unsanctioned war in Iraq was privately authorised by yourself and President Bush to boost both of your political egos and ambitions.” It adds: “Now, Mr Blair, go rot in Hell.”

AND the Downing Street Minutes/Memo back us up! :patriot:

[leesa]

4. What a courageous woman! Fighting for her son even after his death.

[roguevalley]

5. This should go over great with the British people. I'm retired. I wish

I could get a picture of the boy and stand outside Downing Street for the next year or so so that he would have to see the sign.

[oxbow]

6. Hey I live in DC

I'll be there with you most days

[ngGale]

7. Good for Mrs. Blackburn ...

hope he is forced to come. About time Bush and Blair face the music for what they have done.

[Maine-ah]

8. damn!

what a courageous woman, kudos to her.


a new cnn poll is saying that less than four in ten Americans support the war. So, if the approximatly SIXTY % of us did the same as this woman.....