Father Martin Newell was sentenced to 28 days in Wandsworth prison on 15 March for non-payment of £565 in fines. These arose from nonviolent protests against Britain’s wars abroad, drones warfare and Trident nuclear weapons.
The Catholic priest, shortly to move from the London Catholic Worker to a Passionist project in Birmingham, told Westminster magistrates’ court: ‘Jesus taught us to love not just our neighbours but also our enemies. He showed us by his life and example how to resist evil not with violence but with loving, persistent, firm, active nonviolence.’
20 supporters held vigil at Wandsworth prison on 22 March.