SEAN FREE

SEAN KIRTLEY FREE AFTER APPEAL

After 16 months in prison, long-term animal rights prisoner Sean Kirtley has been released following a successful appeal. There are still fearsome reporting restrictions surrounding the case and, as Sean is still awaiting the Crown Prosecution Services decision on whether to re-open the case, SchNEWS can’t give ya the full low-down. (Although we can tell you he went straight to the pub after getting out)

Sean was convicted back in June 2008 of conspiracy to ‘interfere with the contractual obligations of an animal research organisation’, an offence under section 145 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (See SchNEWS 634). He was sentenced to four and half years (out of a maximum possible five). That sentence has been quashed, as has a potential five-year ASBO, which would have totally restricted his ability to exercise his freedom of speech. The charge related to an ongoing campaign against Sequani, a vivisection laboratory based near Ledbury in Herefordshire. His ordeal began with wave of arrests code-named ‘Operation Tornado’, a NETCU* coordinated strike at the animal rights movement.

Sean was the only one of two people convicted (one other man plead guilty at an early stage), and the only one imprisoned. His six co-defendants were all acquitted. Evidence relied heavily on phone and e-mail records that the prosecution used to suggest a ‘conspiracy’. This charge was useful to the prosecution because the Sequani campaign had been entirely peaceful, and there is not one shred of evidence linking Sean to any violence against people or property. The central plank of the evidence against him was that he updated the campaign website.

Despite being almost the definition of a ‘prisoner of conscience’ it’s been nearly impossible for Sean’s comrades to get any of the mainstream civil liberties organisations interested in his case. Instead, the fear of being tarred with the animal rights brush has silenced those who would usually be most vocal about such a blatant attempt to stamp on a campaign. Also, funnily enough NETCU - usually lightning fast to gloat on their website when one of their victims gets a prison sentence - haven’t got round to press releasing the news of Sean’s successful appeal yet.

* See www.sequani.wordpress.com

** National Extremism Tactical Co-ordinating Unit (See SchNEWS 581).