A CAMPAIGNER jailed for his involvement with a Palestine Action protest in Glasgow disputed the Home Secretary’s account of the incident.
Stuart Bretherton was one of five protesters who were imprisoned for occupying the Thales weapons factory in Govan and has hit out at the UK Government’s proscription of the group, which will result in it being branded a terrorist organisation.
The 27-year-old father of one, who was jailed when his partner was three months pregnant, told The National of his disagreement with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s version of events.
In a statement to Parliament, Cooper quoted the sheriff who jailed Bretherton and four others for causing more than £1 million of damage on the premises, saying that Palestine Action had caused “panic” among Thales staff who were evacuated from the building.
Bretherton, who served four months of his 12-month sentence, said: “We took responsibility for taking part in a protest that we were aware was breaking the law but we did so in a completely non-violent fashion. We did nothing to endanger any of the workforce present."
He added that he would contest claims that the group had caused panic among the workforce.
“There was quite a jovial atmosphere among them as they stood having evacuated in a fairly orderly fashion. People were making jokes and taking the mick out of us, as we can accept that they would, things like this," said Bretherton.
The charity worker, who works in the fuel poverty sector, described the evacuation as being similar to a fire alarm test.
He said: “I held a pyrotechnic aloft and once it fizzled out, people were laughing and joking and saying, ‘You need to spark another one of them’ and this sort of thing.
“I heard through someone that I was in prison with, his friend works in the factory and was pleased because they got the day off.
“Ultimately I didn’t see people’s reaction when the fire alarm went off inside the building but they exited in a completely ordinary fashion and all congregated below us, as people do in those sort of fire evacuation procedures and stood around chatting, joking, smoking, the usual sort of thing.”
Bretherton said the Government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action, which makes it a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison for belonging to the group or expressing support for it, raised questions for people who were supportive or had been involved with the group.
“I wouldn’t say I am a member in that there is no formal membership structure, that’s what’s so vague about the judgment,” he said.
“I don’t have a membership card, I don’t pay membership fees, I don’t have a local branch. It’s really uncertain what it means for anyone like me who has participated in the past or anyone who has voiced support online including writers, MPs, ordinary people, all kinds of folk who could potentially be subject to criminal investigation.”
The Home Office was approached for comment.
