PROTESTER Sean Clerkin has lost his appeal to have judges overturn a conviction for a protest at an Ed Balls Labour Party event.
The pro-independence campaigner had been fined £1000 after being found guilty of Breach of the Peace for attempting to gatecrash the party’s meeting during the 2015 General Election.
Then Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy and Balls, who was then the shadow chancellor, were addressing party members and journalists in Glasgow’s City Halls when Clerkin tried to manoeuvre his way in. In the resulting stooshie, Clerkin fell to the floor, and then alleged that a Labour Party staff member had assaulted him.
Sheriff Tony Kelly fined Clerkin, £1000 for the disturbance. The Barrhead-based agitator appealed, saying Kelly should have recused himself as he is the brother of Labour MSP James Kelly. Clerkin also claimed the verdict would hamper free speech.
The High Court disagreed with him.
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