FOLEY, Adam Sean

Family Name:

Foley

Given Names:

Adam Sean

Gender:

Male

Birth-date:

Unknown, possibly 1948

Death-date:

Unknown

Marital Status:

Unknown, probably Single

Age/ Age Range:

Early 20s

Location:

NSW, Cremorne

Occupation:

Psychiatric Nurse, Medical Student

Primary Motivation:

Draft Resister

Reason for Court Appearance:

[1] Refused to register for the January 1968 intake

[2] Refused to pay fine for being unregistered

[3] Application for full exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector

Court Name and Location:

[1] Court of Petty Sessions, Philip House, Sydney

[2] Court of Petty Sessions , Philip House Sydney

[3] Court of Petty Sessions, Philip House Sydney

Court Hearing Date:

[1] 23 September 1968

[2] 3 January 1969

[3] 18 December1970

Court Outcome:

[1] Fine $40 plus $17 costs or 29 days jail in lieu

[2]Committed to 29 days jail

[3] Granted full exemption from military duties as a conscientious objector

Military Event:

National Service and Vietnam War 1964-1972

Further Information:

Sean Foley was a Phychiatric Nurse and Medical Student . He was from Cremorne in Sydney. He informed the Minister in January 1968 of his inability to register for National Service as it was an immoral Act. He was convicted on 23 September by Magistrate Bartley and fined $40 plus $17 costs or 29 days in jail in lieu of payment. Sean had writtena letter to the Minister on 19 September 1968 about his impending court case and he stated, This prosecution is the second stage in a struggle to demonstrate my opposition to all military conscription. The first stage was my refusal to register or co-operate with the Department of Labour and National Service or its agents. Sean continued to state that no Government has the right to conscript. He continued, conscription means being taught to kill other humans-other humans arbitrarily declared by a Government to be enemies…I clam my right as an individual, to hold my own beliefs without persecution. If the price of holding these beliefs is persecution, I am willing to suffer rather than to abrogate them.

Sean refused to pay the fine for being unregistered and on 3 January 1969 was convicted and committed to Long Bay Jail in Sydney for 29 days. He then refused to attend the mandatory medical examination on 8 November 1969. His summons was adjourned until 14 April 1969. Sean then decided to comply with the National Service Act. He applied for and was granted full exemption from military duties by Magistrate Barltley. The court hearing was held on 18 December 1969 at the Court of Petty Sessions, Philip House, Philip Street, Sydney.

Confirmatory Sources:

Peacemaker, September/ October 1968, p.5; January/ Febraury 1969, p.6; March/ April 1969,p.6; January/ February 1970, p.3; May/ June 1970, p.4.

Sean Foley

Courtesy: The Peacemaker, January/ February 1969, p.6.