This was published 9 years ago
G20 Brisbane protester Ciaron O'Reilly avoids punishment
A Queensland activist who was arrested for entering the G20 security zone during last year's forum has escaped punishment.
Ciaron O'Reilly, 54, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to entering a secure area while a prohibited person during the leaders' summit last November.
Protester Ciaron O'Reilly with supporters.Credit: Kristian Silva
He was arrested near the forum venue at South Bank on November 15, despite having been served with a prohibited person's notice two days earlier.
O'Reilly's lawyer, Terry Fisher, said the seasoned political activist had wanted to speak to US President Barack Obama about the ongoing persecution of Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden.
"My client is effectively following in the footsteps of Ghandi, Your Honour," Mr Fisher told Brisbane Chief Magistrate Ray Rinaudo.
"His actions are of a non-violent disposition."
O'Reilly once served 13 months in prison in the US for his involvement in disabling a B-52 bomber during the Gulf War.
His latest arrest landed him two nights in the Brisbane watch house.
He is the only person to be convicted under laws that were enacted especially for the leaders' summit.
Magistrate Rinaudo ruled the two nights in custody was enough punishment and convicted O'Reilly without penalising him further.
Outside court, the activist said the G20 ban had been an affront to his civil liberties, but the magistrate's decision was "reasonable".
"It [my protest] was an opportunity to express solidarity with Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden ... and I think I achieved that," he said.
AAP