After being arrested for protesting and the role RBS allegedly played in facilitating climate change, five activists were recently brought before the Edinburgh Sheriff Court to answer several criminal charges.
Londoners Tim Gee and Giovann Speciale, 25 and 38 respectively, along with Wales native Cara Whelan, denied charges of breaching the peace, while Londoner Eleanor Smith, 24, denied charges of graffiti tagging RBS rubbish bins, and 58 year old France native Martin Wallace denied accusations of assault on a police officer in activities linked to their protest outside an RBS branch recently.
All five arrested climate change activists were granted bail provided they complied with the conditions of vacating Endinburgh immediately and did not re-enter the locale unless they were legally required to do so in order to attend court or any other scheduled solicitor meetings. Additionally, they were enjoined to stay at least 500 yards away from RBS corporate headquarters in Gogurburn.
Ms Whelan, Mr Speciale, and Mr Gee face accusations of breaching the peace on August the 23rd at the Nicolson Street RBS branch when they barred customers entrance, chanting anti-RBS slogans, and by adhering themselves to both the branch entrance and to each other using glue in an effort to create a barricade on the branch premises.
Additionally on the 23rd of August, Ms Smith was accused of painting graffiti and damaging eight RBS-owned rubbish bins on the Royal Mile.
Mr Wallace faces accusations of assaulting a police officer when he allegedly rubbed his head, which had nettles affixed to it, against Sgt Kevin Storey’s arm on the 22nd of August. Sgt Storey is part of the Lothian and Borders Police at Gogurburn Bridge.
Mr Wallace was additionally accused of assault upon an unknown number of officers when he allegedly attempted to strike at them with a wooden stick or some similar blunt instrument.
Since Gogurburn has become the location of a recent influx of protesters at what has become known as the Climate Camp this past Thursday, a grand total of 18 individuals have faced arrest.