The peace women issued a statement accusing the former Defence Secretary, Michael Portillo, and the Ministry of Defence of acting in bad faith, because they say that the military lands byelaws, under which they were convicted in the High Court in 1999, were enacted as part of the cover up to conceal the illegal activities carried out by the US National Security Agency at Menwith Hill. They say that no law permits a foreign power based on British soil indiscriminately to intercept telephone and email communications. The Ministry of Defence knowingly colludes with the USA’s law breaking and is therefore an accomplice.

The women won the case at York Crown Court in 1997 when Helen’s barrister Vera Baird, (now labour MP for Redcar) changed the ultra vires defence by claiming that the grazing of sheep on the undeveloped part of the Base was not covered by the 1892 Military Lands Act. The MOD won the case back in 1999 on appeal to the High Court, un-opposed by either Helen or Anne, who refused to argue on these terms.

The women say that new evidence has since emerged which supports their defence and that the judges would not have convicted them if they had been aware of it.

Contact: Helen John 01943 468593  helenmenwith@yahoo.co.uk