Pro-Palestine protesters in Brisbane Court for storming Boeing office

Three activists have faced court for storming the Boeing office in Brisbane earlier this year to protest the company arming Israel in the conflict against Palestine.

Yoga instructor Christopher Churchill was commended by a magistrate for his charitable community work, as he sentenced him for involvement in an Israel Palestine protest. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Three activists have faced court for storming the Boeing office in Brisbane earlier this year to protest the company arming Israel in the conflict against Palestine.

Eleanor Lucy Moreland, 23, Eleni Claire Agnese Rampa Dowling, 20, and Christopher Franklin Churchill, 54, each pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of unlawful assembly.

The Brisbane Magistrates’ Court heard the two young university students, along with yoga instructor Mr Churchill, were part of a group of 12 people who entered the Boeing office on Charlotte Street on January 17.

Police prosecutor Harry Coburn said a Boeing employee had answered the office door around 11am that day, and spoke via intercom to a person claiming they needed to speak to their father.

When the employee opened the door, 12 people entered and set up a protest in the foyer.

Mr Coburn said security were forced to attend to stop individuals from gaining access to other areas, and police were called.

“People in other businesses within the building were essentially unable to access the lift to their building for approximately one hour,” Mr Coburn said.

It will be alleged that another member of the group committed a minor assault and damaged property during the protest, the court heard.

The court heard Ms Moreland, Ms Rampa Dowling, and Mr Churchill were not witness to any assault and had expected it to be a peaceful protest.

Environmental Science student Eleni Rampa Dowling leaves the Brisbane Magistrates Court after being sentenced for protesting at the Boeing office. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

They had each been co-operative with police and were only there for a short portion of the incident.

The court heard Mr Churchill had a “keen sense of social justice” and had been “motivated by good intentions”.

He had been involved in yoga throughout his life, followed peaceful beliefs, and had an extensive history of volunteer work.

Ms Moreland had been school captain at All Hallows School before completing a degree in Politics, Philosophy, Economics and Sociology at Trinity College Dublin.

Her lawyer Terry Fisher said she would soon be leaving to the London School of Economics, where she would start her Masters in Political Theory.

“My client has a brilliant career ahead of herself, possibly as a future leader of Australia,” Mr Fisher said.

Defence lawyer Emily O'Hagan said Ms Rampa Dowling had been raised in a family of activists and was currently studying a Bachelors of Environmental Science at Griffith University.

“She’s a young person with her whole life ahead of her,” Ms O’Hagan said.

Magistrate Peter Saggers accepted that Ms Rampa Dowling and Ms Moreland both had strong career prospects ahead of them.

He also commended Mr Churchill for his charitable work in the community.

“You seem to me to be a selfless man … You’ve brought benefit to people’s lives, and that’s to your credit,” Mr Saggers said.

But he said the incident would have been upsetting to employees, particularly at the outset when the protesters initially rushed inside.

“When that first happens, I would expect that they (the employees) may not have been aware of what was going on,” Mr Saggers said.

“For that period of time it would be, I expect, somewhat frightening to them.”

The three defendants were each released on a six-month good behaviour bond, with a $500 recognisance.

No convictions were recorded.