Heavy handed security at first 2012 Shannon vigil

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Sunday January 08, 2012 19:21

by Edward Horgan - Shannonwatch and PANA

War Planes at Shannon Warport

Twenty five peace activists were again far outnumbered by security forces at Shannon airport at the January peace vigil. Inside the airport three OMNI Air Troop carriers were under army and garda protection, at taxpayers expense. Garda and army personnel were not complaining of course, with their Garda overtime and army security allowances. The taxpayer may wish to question however, why Ireland is incurring such expenditure, in addition to waving many of the air navigation fees due to US military traffic over and through Ireland. This military air traffic is also breaching Irish neutrality on a daily basis.

Hercules C 130 num. BD 5379, US NAVY warplane at Shannon 8 Jan 2012

I arrived at Shannon airport at 1 pm, and was waved casually through the combined Garda and airport security checkpoint, set up to detect such a pesky peace activist. I went on foot to the airport car park near the control tower to photograph the US military war-planes. At the terminal building was an OMNI Air DC 10 being loaded with food and fuel for its journey to or from on the war zones in the Middle East. This plane had two Gardai on patrol at the aircraft. In the centre of the airfield was another OMNI Air DC 10 also being guarded by a uniformed Garda. Nearby was a Hercules C130 warplane numbered BD 5379, with United States Navy markings and what appeared to be long-range fuel tanks under the wings. This is the type of aircraft used at times by US special forces, including US Navy Seals, to carry out special operations, included targeted assassinations such as the one that killed Osama Bin Laden, and many others besides, in breach of international laws. Nearby was an Irish Army patrol standing guard on these warplanes, instead of searching and possibly arresting any war criminals who might be on board. Having spent 10 minutes phootgraphing these planes, three Gardai arrived on not-so hot pursuit (of me, not the war criminals). I was informed that I was trespassing on private property and ordered to leave. I informed them that I was in a public car park that was additionally owned by the Irish public and taxpayers, and asked the gardai to desist from making false statements. I took some more photographs, retired to the nearby hotel for a cup of coffee, before joining the peace vigil at our usual location at the roundabout. In the meantime my colleague who was in the arrivals area of the terminal building was also being escorted by two additional Gardai, and two more joined me when I walked through the terminal building. I requested Garda Downey to search and investigate the US Navy Hercules warplane, but his response was that that was not his business. We had a friendly discussion on this matter. Back at the roundabout vigil, we had 25 peace activists from Galway, Cork, Dublin, Westmeath, Limerick and Clare, including two octogenarians, who have been very regular supporters of these monthly vigils. Roger Cole, Chairperson of PANA, the Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance, formally requested Sergeant Noel McMahon to have the US Navy Hercules warplane searched and investigated, but he refused to do so, and suggested that any such request should be made in writing to Shannon Garda Station. Edward Horgan then asked why no action had been taken so far on the hundred's of previous requests for searches of US military and CIA associated aircraft at Shannon airport. There was no coherent response from any of the Gardai present. Thanks to all the peace activists who turned up for this peace vigil, and we hope that many more will join us on the second Sunday of each month throughout 2012, and beyond if necessary. Please note that on March 11th 2012, there will be special peace vigil at Shannon to mark the aniversary of the begining of the US war against the people of Iraq. Special busses will be provided by PANA from Dublin for this occasion. Please contact info@pana.ie for further information.

Army and Gardai protect US warplanes at Shannon 8 Jan 2012