ClareFM: Ciaron O'Reilly debates FF Cllr. Peter Considine about Shannon Airport

by anti-war Thu Sep 07, 2006 16:03

Don't forget that Ciaron and also Deirdre Clancy - two of the acquiited Ploughshares - are speaking alongside Harry Browne (columnist with Village and Anti-War Ireland member) in Dublin this evening.

7.30pm at the ATGWU Hall, 55 Middle Abbey Street.

by Jonathan D Thu Sep 07, 2006 20:02

A dangerous precedent has been set here. These people committed a criminal act, and they should have been delt with in a proper manner. By letting them off the hook the Irish Justice system has sent out a terrible message to the nation. They are saying that political crimes will be tolerated, and people who commit them can claim refuge in the fact that it was a political crime. If somebody kills another person and cites political reasons in an attempt to exonerate themselves, they are no less a murderer. Therefore, anybody who trespasses and causes criminal damage for political reasons is no less a criminal than the person who enters a private home and interferes with items belonging to another person

by J.P Murphy Esq. (pseud.) Thu Sep 07, 2006 20:14

I Agree with the last comment. Even though their main point, that helping either side of a war might therefore lead to the involvment of our Irish nutrality, might be correct. Any means of physical sabbotage to prove a point, diminishes the credibility of the protestor. This can be seen in many protests that have been carried away by testosterone driven madness, a reminder of the caveman instinct in all humans, must be controlled if we are to live in a democratic civilisation that made wars were fought over.

by Jack the Lad - Labour Thu Sep 07, 2006 20:46

It's a phrase that the local FFers and hangers on are using to distract from their own failures on the Shannon issue. They point to this and say "SEE! SEE! These people want you to lose your jobs! Don't let them! They want to shut the airport down completely! No jobs, no flights for anyone!"

Meanwhile Martin Cullen is privatising Aer Lingus, removing the dual gateway status and prevaricating on the Rail link to Shannon. All of which should be mentioned next time Ciaron or anyone else is on Clare FM.

by Jack the Lad - Labour Thu Sep 07, 2006 21:07

". If somebody kills another person and cites political reasons in an attempt to exonerate themselves, they are no less a murderer. Therefore, anybody who trespasses and causes criminal damage for political reasons is no less a criminal than the person who enters a private home and interferes with items belonging to another person"

The US military in Iraq is killing people for political reasons. And tresspassing in Iraq. And causing criminal damage in Iraq.

Compared to that, what happened in Shannon to that plane is small beer.

by Jonathan D Thu Sep 07, 2006 23:04

At no point did i incline that I was in favour of the US occupation. I certaiinly am not. However, I am free tocondemn the actions of the people. They should not have done what they did. Wheather its small potatoes relative to the occupation is beside the point

by seedot Fri Sep 08, 2006 00:49

After the uprising of the 17th June
The Secretary of the Writers Union
Had leaflets distributed in the Stalinallee
Stating that the people
Had forfeited the confidence of the government
And could win it back only
By redoubled efforts. Would it not be easier
In that case for the government
To dissolve the people
And elect another?

Give it up Jonathon D, you've lost in court, you've lost the people and your concern for the malicious building of shrines and and heinous defence of our neutrality is touching - but a bit 2003.

but of course you oppose the war - why else would you write your attacks.

by Jonathan D Fri Sep 08, 2006 01:01

I am not condoning the War or the occupation. It has become apparent to me that Left Wingers seem to have a very warped view of logic. Just because I disagree with their tactics, it does not mean I support the War or the occupation. I despise war, it leads to nothing but the deaths of innocent Children and people. However, I believe that a society needs laws and regulations, and that applies across the board. Frankly left wingers are the ones who hide behind the constitution, and various legislation when it is on thier side. Otherwise, it appears they dont believe it applies to them. I remember a case where the SWP and the SP in NUI Galway had YFG or the YPD'S thrown from the freshers tent when they found out they were not properly registered as a society. Now thats a proper logic, that when the law is in their favour the left wingers will use it, but at other times (like Mr O Reilly ET AL) they felel it does not apply to them, particlarly when it comes to their own point of view

JP Murphy made an excellent point, protests can be taken too far, and this one was

by redjade Fri Sep 08, 2006 01:11

Jonathan D

somewhere between 100,000 and 200,000 iraqis have died because (or at least partially because) of Ireland's non-neutrality regarding GW Bush's War on the Iraqi people.

if smashing a few US warplanes is not justified, considering that
then what is?

letter of the law - or spirit

people's lives are at stake
and ireland - regardless if it thinks of itself as so - is the centre of that hurricane

centre of the hurricane, regardless if irish activists and politicians want to think so.

right now as I write this this the brits are positioning their politics away from George W

what is happening today in Ireland?

please inform me.

by Jonathan D Fri Sep 08, 2006 01:41

Look, I just dont believe its their prerogative to smash up planes (war ones or otherwise). As I said in my first post a very dangerous precedent could be set here. Anti war activists could act in a polkitically motivated manner and it could lead to very serious damage. I totally support the Anti War movement, but i feel things like this discredit the AWI. Iqt should be seen as a group of protest, and a very vocal one at that. It should not be seen as some kind of group who smash up planes and cause criminal damage. Its like Youth Defence. Their cause may be noble, however their use of basebal bats and hurley sticks at meetings of the IFPA or pro choice meetings in general have served to discredit them badly, and as a result they are forced to peddle their wares on the side of OConnell Street on saturday afternoons, at a time when people have better things to do.

People should do things legally and properly. People should make their voices heard and be loud about what they believe in. However when they resort to criminal activity they stain the name of their cause and the organisation

by PaddyK Fri Sep 08, 2006 02:43

"These people committed a criminal act, and they should have been delt with in a proper manner. "
__________________________________________________________

They were dealt with in a proper manner. A manner that properly highlighted the bias of Ireland's legal system on behalf of political interest. Yet, they were still found : Not Guilty of any crime .
Not bad for this little corner of civilisation.

Actually , I believe they were deemed to be righteous in their assertion that by not acting against the criminal war effort they would be failing to prevent an international crime from occurring. Subsequently , correctly charged with being highly concerned for the safety of other people. Found guilty.....but, not yet a crime. They walked free.
However, the rest of the country ignoring that fine moment of clarity? That is probably a crime under existing international law.

by same Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:35

This is why noone can be arsed to comment on this anymore because if anyone says they disagree they are automatically antiwar, or a troll or some poor person with no idea(basically people throwing cheap remarks).

Somebody will get hurt from one of these shenanigans soon and then the bricks will start to hit

mark my words

by anon Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:35

The Anti-War Ireland meeting in the ATGWU hall last night was really good. About 80 people. Good talks by two of the ploughshares and by Harry Brown of AWI and Village. Mixed contributions from the floor - some good, some saying the usual stuff. Would have been better if there was more time for discussion but the ATGWU always seem to be strict about time.

by Yank Peacenik Fri Sep 08, 2006 13:11

Ciaron O'Reilly and Joshua Casteel - Catholic Workers with different Bacgkrounds and One Objective - Stop this War!

http://www.dublincameraclub.ie/newPicture.jsp?picture=2121

Ciaron O'Reilly entered the anti-war movement in his teens. He was formerly a defendant in "2 1/2 million criminal damage" to U.S. military euipment case.
www.peaceontrial.com

Joshua Casteel entered the U.S. military in his teens. He was formerly an interrogator at Abu Ghraib.
http://www.villagemagazine.ie/article.asp?aid=2234&iid=...ud=31

by Update Sat Sep 09, 2006 04:57

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060908/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/m...iting

by Cindy Sheehan Support Sat Sep 09, 2006 12:33

http://www.campdemocracy.org/

by Update Sat Sep 09, 2006 20:26

http://www.totalcatholic.com/universe/index.php?news_id...nth=9

by mike Tue Sep 12, 2006 15:56

Greetings from shannon! I just collected my kids from school to be stopped by gardai and armed soldiers at a "routine" checkpoint. when i asked what was going on i was told by a garda that he wasn't allowed to tell me. Are we at war?