French saboteurs appeal to stop TV showing trial video

Dominique Prieur (left) and Alain Mafart

The two French agents jailed over the Rainbow Warrior bombing 20 years ago have appealed against a High Court decision to allow TVNZ to show footage of their trial.

The ruling last week allowed the network to screen court footage never before seen of Alain Mafart and Dominique Prieur, who were convicted of wilful damage and the manslaughter of Greenpeace photographer Fernando Pereira in 1985.

The High Court ruled that public interest in the footage outweighed the privacy issues of the agents, TVNZ lawyer William Akel has said.

Mafart and Prieur lodged their appeal within the required seven days.

TVNZ news and current affairs head Bill Ralston said the network would try to fast-track the appeal because "these people are effectively stalling ... We've waited for 20 years and we'd like to get it sorted out."

The appeal did not surprise Greenpeace campaign manager Cindy Baxter.

"The French Government still won't apologise, and 20 years later is still running from New Zealand justice."

She said the agents waived their right to privacy when they published books on the event.

The footage was taken so the media could see the trial from outside the courtroom and to allow the accused to sit in the dock without having to be surrounded by bulletproof glass.

TVNZ plans to use it as part of a Sunday special to mark the anniversary of the bombing in July.

Mafart and Prieur were sentenced to 10 years' jail. They were transferred to Hao Atoll in July 1986 and repatriated to France soon after.

Mr Akel confirmed the appeal had been filed and said a court date had yet to be set.