Criminal, Austrian Landlady & Politicians

The Criminal, The Austrian Landlady and the Politicians

METRIC MARTYRS PRESS RELEASE
Press conference and photo opportunity :
The Criminal, The Austrian and the Politicians
at
THE CARDINAL'S HAT PUBLIC HOUSE
31 FRIAR STREET
WORCESTER
WR1 2NA
At 12.45 for 1pm. Friday 18th October, 2002.

Sunderland Greengrocer and first criminally convicted Metric Martyr will be present to show solidarity and support for Andrea Schutz, the Austrian landlady facing prosecution for selling draught beer in metric measures (a criminal offence under the 1995 Metrication Regulations).

"This highlights the absurd and hypocritical situation whereby it is a criminal offence to sell bananas by the pound and beer by the litre, the joining of forces on both sides of the argument will highlight what we have argued from the outset, and that is freedom of choice for both the retailer and the customer.We are not and never have been anti-metric or anti-European, and it is about time the ministers and officials in Whitehall took control of what has become now an absolute farce worthy of a Monty Python sketch." Neil Herron

Showing their support will be cross-party representation from the region's Members of the European Parliament including Liz Lynne (Lib/Dem)...............................01789 266 354 Malcolm Harbour (Conservative)........0121 711 3158 Neena Gill (Labour)................................0121 569 1921

Human Rights Organisation, Liberty, (involved with the Metric Martyrs case being lodged at the ECHR in Strasbourg) has agreed to act as legal representative for Andrea Schutz in any actions commenced by Trading Standards. Contact Roger Bingham (Press Officer......0207 378 3656 or 07973 83 1128) "The threatened prosecution of Miss Schutz highlights that this is not an anti-european issue. It is about freedom of speech in the face of the nonsensical and disproportionate use of the criminal law." John Wadham (Director of Liberty)

Neil Herron, Campaign Director for the Metric Martyrs Defence Fund, will also be present, as the Fund will be assisting Andrea with her defence and strategy.

David Delaney, press officer, British Weights and Measures Association, who have also thrown their weight behind Miss Schutz, will be on hand to answer questions. (Tel. 0117 966 8775 or 0779 0000 202)

Contact: Neil Herron www.metricmartyrs.com Metric Martyrs Defence Fund Tel. 0191 5657143 07776 202045 metricmartyrs@btconnect.com

Worcester Trading Standards........01905 765 389 (Clive Graham, Head of Trading Standards)

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