Extinction Rebellion trio 'went too far' with rush hour train protest, court told
The demonstration caused over an hour of disruption
An elderly Anglican priest and two other Christian environmentalists "went too far" in their climate change protest by stopping a busy train at Shadwell Station during the morning rush hour, a court has heard.
Angry passengers who were caught up in the disruption in 2019 begged the three protesters to move from the DLR train, but they refused until the police arrived.
Reverend Sue Parfitt, now aged 79, Father Martin Newell, 54, and Philip Kingston, 85, were determined to stop the train as part of a demonstration.
A specialist team of officers had to carefully remove Kingston from the train, Inner London Crown Court heard.
Parfitt, of Bristol, and Newell, of Birmingham, used a ladder to climb on the train roof while Kingston, of Patchway, South Gloucestershire, superglued himself to the side of the carriage.
Prosecution claims protesters "went too far"
Prosecutor Edmund Blackman told the jury: "The prosecution's case against these defendants is that they went too far in their protest.
"Of course, living in a democratic society, people have that right. It is a precious right but that right has to be balanced against the right of other people.
"This case is about where you draw that line. The prosecution case is that they went too far."
The train which was travelling from Lewisham to Bank just shortly before 7am was about 70% full of passengers.
The protest caused 77 minutes of disruption, 15 DLR trains were delayed or cancelled but no trains were stuck in tunnels, the court heard.
The protesters, who are members of Christian Climate Action, an arm of ER, are charged with obstructing an engine or carriage on the railway.
They have each pleaded not guilty to the charges.
British Transport Police warns such protests could lead to safety risks
The disruption came a day after an ER representative had met with the British Transport Police (BTP) to say that a protest was on the cards within 24 hours.
BTP's Superintendent Richard Twyford said that any such protests could lead to safety risks such as congestion and crush hazards, and could force people to be evacuated.
The jury heard that some passengers told the environmentalists: "This is a f***ing electric train, you should be supporting this," and: "Can you let us go? We are begging you."
The court heard that another person told them: "You are not even speaking - what's your protests?"
A different commuter asked: "How did you get to the station, did you walk here? Obviously you got here by a train or bus," the court was told.
The hearing will resume today (12th January).