Greenpeace protesters appear in court in Tain on Cromarty Firth rig charges
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TWO Greenpeace protesters appeared in Tain Sheriff Court today charged with disorderly conduct by scaling a rig in the Cromarty Firth.
A warrant was issued for a third protester and it is believed another two could appear at Tain Sheriff Court on Thursday.
Christopher Till (37), of Browns Road, London and Paula Radley (31), of Bull Stag Green, Hartfield, Hertfordshire plead not guilty and an intermediate diet was fixed for July 29 and a trial for August 28.
They were released on bail with special conditions not to enter or attempt to enter the waters of the Cromarty Firth.
They were also ordered to leave Scotland within 12 hours of their release on bail and not to re-enter Scotland except for pre-arranged appointments with their legal representative and for court hearings.
However their bail allowed them to have already arranged holidays, but nowhere near the Cromarty Firth.
The charge read that on June 9, 10 and 11 at the Cromarty Firth, within the port limits under the jurisdiction of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority, Invergordon, that they while acting with others conducted themselves in a disorderly manner and boarded an oil platform without permission or other lawful authority and then refused to leave, attaching themselves to the platform by tethers.
They are charged with placing themselves and others in danger and preventing others going about their business and committing a breach of the peace.
Greenpeace earlier confirmed it has been served an interdict in an attempt to bring to an end its protest on the oil rig.
The Transocean rig, under contract to BP, was due to leave the Cromarty Firth on Sunday, heading for the Vorlich oil field east of Aberdeen.
But the operation was halted after two Greenpeace campaigners boarded the structure on Sunday evening.
Greenpeace said it had been served the interdict, a legal document, by BP's contractor Transocean.
