Occupy appeal against eviction rejected

Posted : Wed 22 February 2012 - 9:49am

Last Updated : Wed 22 February 2012 - 3:40pm

Author: Staff Reporter
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Contributors: RichArrowsmith

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[VIDEO] Occupy protester talks to @KatyBlottr at the Occupy camp about the decision to evict protesters and what's in store for the group.
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The Occupy movement who have made their home outside St Paul's Cathedral since 15th October 2011 have had their eviction appeal rejected at the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ) this morning.

The ruling allows for the planned eviction by the City of London Corporation of the Occupy camp to go ahead straight away but the process is most likely within the next 7 days.

There is a relatively strong police presence in the area with police on the scene at both the RCJ and St Paul's including some mounted units.

The defence lawyer for Occupy, Mr John Cooper QC, has told the court how 'the occupy message has been heard, and will continue to be heard'. It was then later confirmed that the case will be taken to the European Court of Human Rights.

In a statement released on the Occupy LSX website, a statement from John Cooper QC read:

“The five day trial and the hearing last week in front of one of the most influential courts in the country has firmly established Occupy as a leading and influential force in public debate. The legal proceedings recognised their integrity, determination and influence for good in modern Society.

Of course my clients are disappointed that in accordance with the strict interpretation of domestic law, they have not prevailed today but they do not regret one second of the chance afforded to them to make their case and challenge the approach of the Corporation and the Church.

My clients will now be urgently considering their next legal steps with their legal team and will, we anticipate, be bringing their case to the European Court of Human Rights to give that Court the opportunity to consider the state of public protest law in Britain.”

The protesters have declared that their eviction will be a peaceful one, with an aim to avoid a 'Dale Farm situation' during the eviction.

One of the protesters who appealed against the original ruling, George Barda, spoke of how the 'City of London is the money launderers destination of choice' while another protester described bankers as 'gangsters from hell'.

Reporter @KatyBlottr, who was in court when the decision was made, spoke of how one protester collapsed after making an 'impassioned' speech outside the courts.

There will now be a general assembly at St Paul's following the appeal rejection.

Many believe that the eviction of the Occupy camp at St Paul's will have a knock-on effect to others who are protesting around the world. One protester said 'people in the UK and across the world will be demoralised if they see Occupy LSX just leave'. Barda has hinted that this will not be the end of Occupy London's protest saying; "we do need to carry on occupations".

One protester, claiming to be from Anonymous UK, accuses the City of London of perverting the course of justice in the following video. They reveal they have footage showing bailiffs saying they will not evict from court land: