Climate protestor faces Brisbane court with possum makeup after delaying coal train for hours

A climate protestor has faced court while dressed up as a possum after allegedly stopping a coal train by sitting on top of it.

Caitlin McMahon, who goes by ‘Kitty Kitty Meow Meow’, faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday after being charged with obstructing railways, entering rolling stock not used for passengers, trespassing on a railway and serious assault.

The 25-year-old is alleged to have scaled a coal train bound for the Port of Brisbane at 8:30pm on Friday causing several trains to be delayed by about two hours.

A large police operation, including the use of a police helicopter, was deployed to arrest McMahon and remove her from the train. 

McMahon is one of several activists to recently stage dangerous protests that have disrupted the operations of fossil fuel organisations across Australia and threatened the safety of workers and the general public.

Police allege McMahon was able to gain access to the train after a man wearing a high-vis vest stood on the tracks bringing the train to a screeching halt.

The man allegedly told the train conductor that there was a person on the train before quickly fleeing from the area. 

Ms McMahon live-streamed the event for about 85 minutes, speaking about the protest’s intentions and why she was dressed as a possum.

‘I’m here because Australia and its many systems, governances (and) tyranny is not doing anything to stop the climate catastrophe so it’s up to us to take matters into our own hands,’ she said.

‘We have successfully blocked all of the train and freight activity in the Port of Brisbane this evening. 

‘My name’s Kitty but I’m actually dressed as a possum today and I’m a nocturnal creature, and I’m standing in solidarity with all my furry friends.

‘It’s not just us the people that are experiencing this climate catastrophe it’s all the beings that co-exist and share this space.’

The live-stream was posted to Youtube alongside numerous other videos of protestor’s live-streams.

A massive police effort, including the use of a police helicopter, was used to arrest McMahon on Friday night after she live-streamed the entire event (pictured, police at the scene)

McMahon was granted bail under the condition she does not come within 50m of any Queensland Rail Infrastructure (pictured, Brisbane Magistrates Court)

McMahon, who still had her face painted as a possum after spending the night in custody, was granted bail by Magistrate Andrew Moloney under the condition she doesn’t go within 50m of Queensland Rail infrastructure.

Police prosecutor, Zoe Rickards, opposed bail being granted alleging McMahon was part of the group which had been committing similar protests, The Courier Mail reported.

Ms Rickards also noted the police effort that was undertaken to remove McMahon from the train. 

‘It took two hours … to free the defendant from on top of the train carriage, it required 20 police units, which included Polair, again on a Friday evening, usually one of our busiest times of the week,’ she said. 

McMahon’s defence lawyer, Lauren Heaney, argued her client had no criminal history and was active in an LGBTQ+ safe space community near Nimbin, in northern NSW.

McMahon is expected to face Wynnum Magistrates Court on July 17.