Fr Martin Newell, the priest and peace activist imprisoned last month for unpaid fines, appeared in court again yesterday to deny charges of criminal damage.
Fr Newell said he was trying to prevent “mass destruction” when he wrote on the wall of the Ministry of Defence in London with ash, “Choose life – no Trident, says God – God is peace” at the protest on Ash Wednesday.
The 46-year old member of the Passionist Order, from Walthamstow, East London, pleaded not guilty to causing criminal damage under £5,000.
Fr Newell, who was representing himself at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, was alleged by prosecutor Geoff Gelbart to have caused £500-£1,000 worth of damage.
But Fr Newell denied this, saying: “I have a witness who saw it being washed off with soap and water.”
The priest was released on unconditional bail and will appear for trial on 8 August.
Fr Newell, who works with homeless refugees at the London Catholic Worker project, was sentenced in March to 28 days in HMP Wandsworth after refusing to pay fines of £565 relating to protests against the Trident nuclear defence system, the use of armed drones and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Loading ...
