Two pro-Palestine activists avoided jail after causing damage to an Oldham factory during a protest, as a judge told them it would not deter others who think criminality affects any political cause.
Protesters targeted the offices of Ferranti Technologies in August 2021, which was then under the ownership of Israel-based arms manufacturer Elbit. Thousands of pounds-worth of damage was caused as red paint was sprayed on the building, and windows were smashed. Prosecutors allege that it was a 'coordinated conspiracy to attack the business'.
Three Incidents Detailed in Court
Minshull Street Crown Court heard there were three incidents involving Rio Brennan, 32, Paul Shortt, 53, Ronnie Barkan, 49, and Stavit Sinai, 41. The first took place on May 12 2021, and saw Brennan, Barkan and Sinai wearing red boiler suits and arming themselves with tools and weapons to cause damage.
"Fortunately they were stopped by police and security staff. They found them hiding in bushes at the time," said prosecutor Marte Alnaes. "Once detained they were searched and found with items including bolt cutters, a ladder, flares and red paint."
Less than a month later, on June 1 2021, Brennan, Short and two others, were stopped in a silver Ford Fiesta on Huddersfield Road, near to the building on Cairo House. Brennan was in the drivers seat and Shortt was in the passenger side, the court heard. The car was searched and officers found fire extinguishers filled with paint, and Shortt was found with an extendable baton.
Damage and Sentencing
The third incident took place on August 23, 2021, involving Shortt and others. "A road traffic collision was staged a short distance away, which took security away from the building. This allowed them to enter the building," Ms Alnaes said. "Shortt and others then went up to the roof. Red paint was sprayed and windows were smashed, whilst others demanded the company was shut down." During this incident, the defendant managed to cause £15,855 of damage to the building.
Brennan, who has previous convictions for resisting/obstructing a police office, assault an emergency worker and theft, represented herself at the sentencing hearing. She said: "I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to say. Everything relates to when I became involved in protests for Palestine Action as a direct result of my time in Palestine and what I experienced over there."
"There has been no offending since - I have worked, got married, bought a house, I've had a baby. My baby is my number one priority, he is my world and what my attention goes on."
For Shortt, Lynton Orrett said his motivation was similar to that of which he had previously been convicted. "The focus of the protests was against a specific company," he added. Shortt has four previous convictions for six offences including possession of an offensive weapon.
Sentencing them both, Judge Bernadette Baxter said: "You are all to be sentenced for offences that arose out of protests by Palestine Action against a company, Ferranti Technologies, namely attacks on that premises."
"There was some planning, obviously as it was part of a protest group - but it was by no means a sophisticated operation. There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and there will be a significant impact on others if you go to custody."
"Also given the present prison situation, I ask myself - does the public interest demand there must be an immediate custodial sentence in this case, to deter others who have misguided plans to think criminality affects any political cause? It does not."
Brennan, of Riverside Road, Penwortham, Preston, was sentenced to a 12 month community order, and 250 hours unpaid work. She pleaded guilty to having an article with intent to damage property. Short, of Glenholm Place, Dumfries, was handed 21 months suspended for two years. He must complete 250 hours unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He previously pleaded guilty to having an article with intent to damage property and possession of an offensive weapon.
Ronnie Barkan, of no fixed abode, and Stivat Sinai, of no fixed abode, were each handed two years conditional discharge. Judge Baxter said they both indicated guilty pleas to having an article with intent to damage property but were currently out of the country. She said they had been denied access to the United Kingdom by the Home Office and remain out of the country. They were convicted in their absence following a trial.
