Protest trial 'is waste of cash'

Lawyers defending Otis Ferry, Eton-educated son of rock star Bryan Ferry, today accused the Government of wasting £1 million of taxpayers' money prosecuting him for storming Parliament during a foxhunting debate.

They made their case before Ferry and seven others were all found guilty of public-order offences following their invasion of the House of Commons in September 2004.

All eight were given conditional discharges and ordered to pay £350 costs.

Earlier, the protesters' solicitor hit out at the cost of investigating and prosecuting the case, and of an inquiry into Parliamentary security. "It has been a monstrous waste of taxpayers' money and could have been dealt with in a much better way," Jeff Hide said.

"These men could have all been bound over to keep the peace or, more appropriately in these very special circumstances, they could have been held in custody, brought back to the House of Commons on the day they were arrested and made to apologise that night to the Speaker."

He accused Tony Blair and Peter Hain, then Leader of the House, of pursuing a politically motivated prosecution.

Ferry and his co-defendants - among them an international polo player, a surveyor, an auctioneer and a horse breeder - now face legal costs of their own estimated at £100,000-£200,000. Pro-hunt groups have been collecting for their defence since the Commons invasion.

The protesters had walked into the Palace of Westminster disguised as builders before running into the chamber and gesticulating at Alun Michael, the former Rural Affairs Minister.

Ferry, 22, Master of the South Shropshire hunt has admitted plotting the protest and visiting the Commons two days before to see an MP's assistant before drawing a map of the building.

But David Williams QC, defending, said today the protest caused chaos only when doorkeepers tried to arrest his clients. The outdated security - provided by the legendary "men in tights" - only added to confusion when all the pro-hunt group wanted to do was sit down and protest peacefully.

"The doorkeepers were anachronistically dressed for the purpose of arresting people," Mr Williams said. "They are more for show. They are like Beefeaters at the Tower of London. They wore shoes that slip around and one of them was even carrying a sword.

"They [the protesters] were just gaining admittance and making a point."

Edward Vickers, also defending, argued the men had the right to protest peacefully under European law and Article 10 of the European Human Rights Convention.

Mr Vickers added that the men had hoped to influence the Government and protect hunting.

"This peaceful protest planned and executed against all odds should not lead to criminal convictions and you should give the benefit of the doubt to these men," he urged the judge.

Besides Ferry the seven other men who had pleaded not guilty at Bow Street Magistrates' Court are: John Holliday, 42, a huntsman, Robert Thame, a professional polo player, Nicholas Wood, 41, a chef, David Redvers, 34, a horse breeder, Andrew Elliott, 43, an auctioneer, Richard Wakeham, 36, a surveyor, Luke Tomlinson, 28, a friend of Prince William and Prince Harry and an international polo player who represents England.