Fathers4Justice brand Heathrow Security ‘Shambolic’ just weeks before Olympics
Fathers4Justice today claimed two of its activists spent over 15 minutes besides the northern runway close to Terminal 1 on a Father’s Day protest last Sunday before they were apprehended by armed police.
Campaign Director Nadine O’Connor today said, “The security at Alton Towers is better than that at Heathrow”.
The Tony Ashby 47 and Andy Mason 30, both from Hereford, say they easily scaled the Northern perimeter fence in front of the plane spotters viewing area just after 1.00pm on Sunday before laying pictures of their children down on a piece of purple silk at the end of the runway.
The pair remained there for 15 minutes before police apprehended them.
Both men said they had been denied access to their children on Father’s Day and were targeting Heathrow as part of a campaign to highlight the ‘Fatherless Games’ in the run to to London 2012.
The pair were held at Heathrow Police station before appearing at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Monday where they pleaded guilty to ‘Aggravated Trespass’ and ‘Breaching entry in an airport restricted zone.’
Both men are to be tagged pending sentencing. Attempts by the CPS to apply restrictions relating to London 2012 were rejected by the court.
Said Campaign Director Nadine O’Connor, “This action marks our resumption of a campaign of direct action in the lead up to London 2012, the Fatherless Games. Whilst ours was a peaceful protest, it should be a concern that just weeks before the Olympics, activists remained on the airfield for over 15 minutes, during which time we understand that the runway was closed.”
