Campaigners cleared over protest at Grand National

Sarah McCaffrey, centre, pictured outside Liverpool Crown Court with two of her fellow defendants after they were acquitted

Six people have been found not guilty of causing a public nuisance during animal rights protests at the 2023 Grand National race meeting.

A total of 118 people were arrested in connection with the protests after attempts were made to stop the race.

Six protestors from the Animal Rising campaign group were found not guilty of intentionally and recklessly causing a public nuisance in connection with the protests on 15 April 2023.

Speaking after the hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, one of the defendants, Sarah McCaffrey, 22, from Strathaven, Scotland, said: "It's vital that peaceful, legitimate protest against suffering and injustice is permitted in the UK."

The others cleared were Lewis Elliott, 32, from Sheffield; Marcus Emmerson, 29, from Worcester; Calum Marshall, 27, from Edinburgh; Imogen Robertson, 24, from the Bridge of Allan and Zara Verryt, 26, from Sheffield.

Ms McCaffrey said: "The verdict today shows that the general public supports the protection of horses."

She said more than 400 horses had died in races since they tried to halt the Grand National and called on the government to ban horse racing.

Animal Rising said that during the trial they had successfully argued that their concern for the lives and welfare of horses provided a justifiable reason for their actions.

They said a further four trials involving protestors were due to to take place, with the next scheduled to begin on Monday.