Mira Hammad and Bethany Currie secure unanimous acquittals for Grand National protestors
25 September 2025
Garden Court North’s Mira Hammad and Bethany Currie represented the protesters in a three-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court (pictured). Credit: Raymond Orton / Shutterstock.
Following a six-handed trial which lasted over three weeks at Liverpool Crown Court, Garden Court North’s Mira Hammad and Bethany Currie yesterday (24 September 2025) secured unanimous acquittals for clients who participated in a highly publicised protest action at the Grand National Race in 2023.
In April 2023, the defendants had attended the Grand National race to participate in a protest as part of Animal Rising’s campaign to protect horses. The clients were charged with the statutory offence of public nuisance.
Mira and Bethany’s clients’ trial was the first of five linked trials following the protest, which saw total of 118 people arrested.
Mira and Bethany successfully argued that the defences of reasonable excuse and proportionality should be left for the jury to consider as two distinct matters.
The judge ruled that the clients’ rights were engaged under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human – and that it was for the jury to determine whether a conviction would amount to a disproportionate interference with those rights.
“It’s vital that peaceful, legitimate protest against suffering and injustice is permitted in the UK,” one of the defendants told BBC News after the hearing.
The defendant added that more than 400 horses had died in races since Animal Rising tried to halt the Grand National, and called on the government to ban horse racing.
Mira and Bethany were instructed by Nicola Hall of Robert Lizar solicitors.
Co-defendants were represented by Hamish McCallum, Associate Member of Garden Court North, and Maria Liddiard, Sarah-Jane Ewart and Michelle Harris of One Pump Court Chambers.
Additional media
BBC News – Campaigners cleared over protest at Grand National
The Independent – Six animal rights activists cleared over Grand National protests
Liverpool Echo – Woman, 22, says ‘it’s vital’ after being found not guilty at court
For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk
