Palestine Action activists in court over Newton Aycliffe protest

Grace Ellwood, 24, Graham Halley, 32, Iona Clark, 26, and 34-year-old Ruby Spencer were arrested after being brought from the roof of Permoid Industries premises in Newton Aycliffe on Monday, June 16 last year.

All four appeared at Durham Crown Court on Monday (March 9) charged with criminal damage to roofing and machinery at the factory and burglary with intent to cause criminal damage.

They each denied the criminal damage charge, but following requests by their lawyers, the burglary charge was not put, as they are seeking to have the charge thrown out by the court.

Palestine Action activists in rooftop protest at Permoid Industries factory in Newton Aycliffe (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Palestine Action protest at Permoid factory in Newton Aycliffe in June last year (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Large police presence at factory in Newton Aycliffe while rooftop protests was taking place, last June (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

A trial date was fixed for an estimated ten-day hearing on the criminal damage charge, as well as the burglary if it is not dismissed, starting on Monday, June 21, 2027.

Palestine Action rooftop protest at Newton Aycliffe last June (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Permoid Industries rooftop protest by Palestine Action activists in June last year (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Judge Jo Kidd bailed Ellwood and Clark, both from Manchester, Halley, from Waltham Forest, London, and Spencer, of Montpelier, Bristol, to attend a hearing to dismiss the burglary charge, on Monday May 11.

The protest was one of a number at factories around the country said to be manufacturing arms or weapon components subsequently supplied to the Israel Defence Force (IDF) for potential use in the conflict in Palestine.

Palestine Action openly claimed responsibility for the protest and a similar one at the same site two days earlier.