Daussoulx farmer protest 2024: nearly €100,000 in damage, acquittals sought
Three farmers appeared before the correctional court of Namur on Friday for fires during the 2024 blockade. The prosecution is seeking acquittal for two defendants.
Arson on E42 and E411: farmers before judge in Namur
Three farmers had to answer before the correctional court of Namur on Friday 2 October for their role during the farmer protests at the Daussoulx junction at the end of January 2024. According to DHnet, only one of the three defendants was present in person: Gary Vanvinckenroye, former chairman of the Fédération des jeunes agriculteurs (FJA).
Antoine M. was unable to free himself from professional obligations, according to his lawyer Me Gravy. Julien F. was also absent and did not arrange representation.
Tractors, fires and black smoke clouds
The Namur authorities accused the three men of involvement in fires that caused substantial damage on the motorways E42 and E411, during the blockades at the Daussoulx junction over the weekend of 26 to 28 January 2024. Surveillance footage from the Perex centre was shown during the hearing to reconstruct the atmosphere and context at the location. It showed hundreds of tractors blocking the lanes, with large fires and thick black smoke clouds.
"We were furious about the European free trade agreement with Mercosur, which threatened the sector," Vanvinckenroye declared before the court. "Two years later, there has been no improvement — quite the opposite. We are subjected to increasingly more restrictions, standards and administrative burdens. Just this week alone I have had three inspections."
Wall of straw bales as safety barrier
Vanvinckenroye explained that he had built a wall of straw bales on the E42 viaduct. "A colleague brought straw that came from my farm, and I arranged the bales in a row," he said. "After the actions were over, the straw would return to my farm."
His lawyer Me Gravy outlined the context: Vanvinckenroye feared the blockade would escalate as it had several days earlier in France, where a car had rammed a protest barricade on the RN20 near Pamiers (Ariège). A farmer and her twelve-year-old daughter died in the incident; the husband was seriously wounded. "He wanted to protect the farmers against a possible hit-and-run," Me Gravy said.
Around two o'clock in the morning, Vanvinckenroye, who had taken a few hours' rest in the cab of his tractor, woke up because his wall of straw bales was on fire.
Antoine M. under pressure from fellow protesters
Antoine M. was heading towards the E42 when police redirected him. He ended up on the E411, 1.5 kilometres from the Daussoulx junction, among other protesters. According to Me Gravy, he was pressured by fellow protesters to empty the load bed of his vehicle, which was filled with agricultural waste and products that fed an already burning fire. "He was never the one who started that fire and had no intention whatsoever of dumping the contents of his load bed," Me Gravy argued, invoking duress.
Julien F. is also accused of involvement in the fire on the E42, but on Friday he was neither present nor represented.
Nearly €100,000 in damage to Walloon motorways
The damage was considerable. Me Lecarte, representing the Walloon Region (owner of the motorways) and Sofico (operator), claims nearly €100,000. On the E42, three lanes were damaged to a depth of ten centimetres. "We feared for the stability of the bridge," Me Lecarte emphasised. The asphalt had to be removed and replaced with 100 tonnes of new asphalt; that work cost approximately €80,000. On the E411, at the foot of the viaduct, the damage was €17,600.
The substitute prosecutor questioned neither the farmers' right to protest, but objected to the destruction of public infrastructure. "The Walloon Region's finances are already not excellent; if we have to rebuild the roads after every protest, that will not work," she said.
Prosecution seeks acquittal for two defendants
Nevertheless, the magistrate issued mild recommendations. She acknowledged the difficulties in the agricultural sector and stated that she could not establish with certainty any active role of the defendants in the arson.
"If Mr Vanvinckenroye builds that wall of straw bales, there is no element that makes me think he set fire to it himself," she declared. "I cannot infer any intention to set fire from his actions." She remained uncertain about Julien F. as well: "The footage does not allow his role to be seen and it confirmed that he dumped waste to start a fire." For both, she sought acquittal.
For Antoine M., the substitute considered a role as an accessory possible, but given the circumstances, the absence of a criminal record and his "perfect integration into society", she did not object to a simple suspended sentence.
Me Gravy in turn sought acquittal for his clients Vanvinckenroye and Antoine M. For the latter he alternatively pleaded for a suspended sentence if the court should find that he participated in the events.
In the event of an acquittal, the court will not rule on the claims of the civil parties. Antoine M. is also being prosecuted by the Brussels authorities for acts related to the protests.
Source: DHnet