Faslane four fined for DSEI arms fair protest

Four anti-war activists who travelled from Scotland to protest one of the world’s largest arms fairs have been fined.

Chloe McKirdle, 28, Gary McDonald, 22, Ian Oliver, 37, and Matthew Watling, 43, were convicted of obstruction after blocking a road leading to the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) weapons show in Royal Docks.

All four, from Faslane Peace Camp, near the home of Britain’s nuclear submarines, were among more than 100 protesters arrested around the biennial event at the ExCeL.

The quartet were arrested on September 6 after lying in Seagull Lane and “locking on” to others, a peaceful tactic to make themselves hard to move.

Stratford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered each to pay a £200 fine, £500 to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £30 victim surcharge.

They had been found guilty of one count of obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in a lawful activity.