For months, it was virtually impossible for the Derry Anti War Coalition to let its supporters across the world know what was going on in the trial of those who took part in its action to occupy and decommission Derry’s Raytheon plant on 9^th August 2006.  Like the mainstream parties, the Courts seem determined to hide the issues behind the occupation from the public. Thus, in November, the Judge imposed a media gag which forbade any mention of the trial, of applications by the Prosecution to move the trial to Belfast. It was even forbidden to report that the gag existed.

The judge also claimed that perfectly peaceful demos outside the court could intimidate jurors. She called for police video of the demo on Nov. 19^th to be shown in court, apparently to support proposals to move the trial from Derry. All mention of solidarity demos was also banned from the press.

 In a bizarre development in December, the Judge cited as possible contempt an article in the Sunday Tribune on 18^th November – the day before the trial was to have started. The article had mentioned possible witnesses to be called by the defence from USA and Lebanon. This is common practice in newspaper articles, but the judge suggested it might be contempt of court.  

Another standard journalistic practice: that of mentioning possible long jail terms if the defendants are found guilty, could also amount to contempt said the judge because it might influence jurors. Meanwhile, papers throughout these islands had headlines reading: ”Canoe man could face five years.”   

Unfortunately, the mainstream media accepted the gag without protest. Concepts like freedom of speech and freedom of assembly do not seem to apply to anti-war protestors.  

However, in February, the media gag was lifted. This followed an application for judicial review of the gag by Shane O’Curry, a member of the Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign.  

Lawyers had told the Raytheon 9 and the Derry Anti War Coalition that there was no point in anyone in anyway involved in the non-violent direct action against Raytheon on August 9^th 2006 seeking a review of the gag. Happily, Shane had been in Rossport on the day of the occupation. So he was able to go to the High Court and seek to have the gagging order lifted. 

However, before the judicial review could be heard, the Lord Chief Justice intervened and told legal representatives Barbara Muldoon and Ronan Lavery that there would be no need for them to make their arguments as the gag was about to be lifted. It seems that, when it came to having to defend the gag, the Courts realised that it was indefensible.

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