A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said:
"On the one hand last week's judgement in Greenock Sheriff Court, which freed three Ploughshares activists, has led to motions for debate in the Scottish Parliament touching on three hugely important issues: the relationship between Scots law and international law; the core of the UK's defence policy; the independence of Scottish jurisdiction in constitutional terms. On the other hand another Ploughshares activist is found guilty of the breach of a piddling piece of delegated legislation in a piddling local court. JP Stirling, who delivered today's verdict, has already admitted that he is incompetent to deal with cases involving international law. He demonstrated that incompetence again today. He has consistently failed to follow the logic of his confession and refuse to handle these cases, in which activists attempt to justify their direct action against the illegal bases on the basis that they are upholding international law.
The threat from Britain's Trident nuclear weapons remains imminent. The continued and lamentable failure of this local court to face its responsibilities and join the struggle to prevent nuclear crime is yet one more reason for continuing and intensifying our direct action."