An Extinction Rebellion protester accused of causing disruption by climbing on top of a DLR train has been set free from a high-security prison after seven nights behind bars.
Cathy Eastburn, 51, was denied bail on Thursday last week after being charged with obstructing the railway at Canary Wharf station, and was remanded to HMP Bronzefield.
The Cambridge-educated mother-of-two, who lives in a £700,000 home near Clapham Common, had been expected to stay in prison alongside some of Britain’s most dangerous female inmates until next month’s scheduled court appearance.
But her lawyers successfully applied for bail at Blackfriars crown court yesterday, and it was granted after she promised to stay away from central London. Under the bail conditions, Eastburn is banned from entering the borough of Westminster unless for a medical appointment, she cannot travel on trains, the Tube or the DLR, and must sleep each night at home. She is allowed to use public buses, but the court heard that her regular mode of transport is cycling. No conditions were imposed to stop Eastburn from attending eco-protests, as long as they are not in Westminster.
She is accused alongside Mark Ovland, 35, and Luke Watson, 29, of blocking the DLR service by climbing on top of a train and refusing to come down when asked by police officers.
The alleged protest was part of the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations in London, which included blocking traffic, occupying high-profile locations and some activists gluing themselves to property. Eastburn, Ovland, and Watson pleaded not guilty to the charge at Highbury Corner magistrates’ court, and are expected to stand trial this year.
Ovland, of Somerton in Somerset, and Watson, of Manuden, Essex, did not make applications for bail yesterday and remain in custody until the next hearing on May 16.
