Australian peace activist cleared(helping disable a US navy plane)

[cal04]

AN Australian peace activist on trial in Ireland for allegedly helping disable a US navy plane in the lead-up to the Iraq war was acquitted.

Ciaron O'Reilly, 46, from Mitchelton in Brisbane's north-west, was charged with causing criminal damage without a lawful excuse, after he and four other peace activists allegedly disabled the plane early on February 3, 2003 at Ireland's Shannon Airport.

Also acquitted at Dublin's Fourt Courts were Irish nationals Deirdre Clancy and Damien Moran, Scottish woman Karen Fallon and American Nuin Dunlop.

(snip)
The group did not deny they were responsible for the dismantling, but claimed they needed to disable the plane to prevent further damage being done in the Iraq war.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19914629-1702,00.html