Catholic activists found guilty of trespassing, damaging property

Published: 2005-09-30

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (CNS) -- A federal jury in Binghamton Sept. 26 found Catholic activists known as the St. Patrick's Four guilty of misdemeanor charges of trespassing and damaging federal property for pouring blood throughout the foyer of a military recruiting center in Lansing on St. Patrick's Day in 2003. Danny Burns, Teresa Grady, Clare Grady and Peter De Mott -- all members of the Ithaca Catholic Worker community -- poured blood on the wall, on the floor, on posters and on the flag at the center. At the time, the U.S. was on the cusp of invading Iraq, and the four said they took the action because they were answering what they heard as desperate pleas from the Iraqi people. They were found not guilty on the most serious charge facing them -- "conspiracy to impede an officer of the United States by threat, intimidation and force." Conviction on that charge carried a possible six-year sentence in federal prison. Each of the four was found guilty of two misdemeanor counts and could be sentenced to up to one year in federal prison, though it was likely they would go to jail for several months. De Mott, Burns and Clare Grady were convicted of an additional count of trespassing.

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