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Home | Friday 6th November 2009 | Issue 698

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LAWLESS-CRUTTENDEN

An attempt to ban animal rights campaigners from wearing animal costumes, ‘blood’ splattered lab coats and face masks and carry banners with the words ‘murder’,’torture’, ‘kills’, abuses’ or (wait for it) ‘Novartis’ was rejected in a ruling by Mr Justice Sweeney at the Royal Courts of Justice last Friday (30th).

The application under the Protection From Harassment Act was made on behalf of Novartis by, surprise, surprise, Timothy Lawson-Cruttenden (aka TLC) - the go-to lawyer for oppressing civil liberties. TLC had claimed a demonstration held on Saturday (31st) would incite criminal activities through “subtle” means.

TLC attempted to argue the demonstration would violate Article 8 of the Human Rights Act - the right to privacy in the home and workplace - and this should override Articles 10 and 11 - the rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

In last Wednesday’s (28th) hearing TLC was unable to provide any case law to support his claims and the application was refused.

The representative for defendants Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), Dr. Max Gastone, said, “Novartis were seeking to control the atmosphere on a protest, which would have been a very draconian ruling. Even the police were wary about how what Novartis sought could have been enforced.” Had Novartis won the case, the ruling would have set a dangerous precedent in curtailing freedom of speech and the right to protest.

Harriet O’Shea, a protester at Novartis in Horsham, said, “They are trying to make a mockery of legal protest. Why should I not be allowed to wear a beagle costume or a blood splattered lab-coat to make my point visually?”

Saturday’s demo went ahead as planned, complete with giant dissected bunnies, placards of abused monkeys and a banner with the slogan “Novartis: Animal Abuser”. There were no arrests despite the subtle subliminal urgings to commit crime.

* See www.myspace.com/sussexactionforanimals



 

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