While planespotting OUTSIDE Shannon Warport in broad daylight last Sunday, some planespotters found themselves on the receiving end of a fit of madness from one of the APOs who decided somehow that he had jurisdiction outside his patch.

Besides manhandling a young lady and her camera, Airport Police Inspector Mike Hogan tried to pass himself off as a member of An Garda Siochana, which is a criminal offence.

Following the EYFA Anti-War Conference in Co Clare last week, some of the participating peaceniks held a vigil in Ennis, where they distributed leaflets and food to the fine people of the banner county.

We informed the locals that there has been a huge increase in troop movements through Shannon. (95,584 in the first three months of 2005 alone. There has also been more frequent sightings of C-130s and US Navy logistic flights at Ireland's de facto warport.)

Over a hundred leaflets were handed out to the public, who also appreciated the free food.

Afterwards, 7 of us went to Shannon to check up on our local US military airstrip. As usual we went to the industrial estate bordering the airport, rather than into the airport itself.

We weren’t there very long when two members of the airport police turned up.

I looked down from my viewing point to see a uniformed Airport Police inspector in a tussle with a lady half his size who was trying to stand her ground and keep her video camera.

I strolled down to see what this guy was up to. The Airport Police vehicle had come to a halt in the middle of the road at a corner next to the PIE warehouse.

As I approached, I could hear the camera crew telling the tall man-in-black that they were in a public place, and acting within the law. The APO Inspector simply told us to get in our vehicles and clear out.

Answers to our SpotTheCrime competition should be sent to:: email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie Phone: 01-6194020 / 4021 / 4043 Fax: 01-6764048 Valid entries should contain only one X marking the criminal action. Employees and relatives of employees of An Dáil are precluded from entry. Expletives will render the entry null and void. Participants may enter any number of times.

From the newswire (Tim Hourigan):

Just got a phone call from Ed Horgan. He was gathering more evidence of the crimes at Shannon when he was set upon by the Airport Police. Ed was told that Airport "Police Inspector" John Martin, Garda Morrissey and Garda Coleman were taking him into custody for taking a photograph of a US militatry Hercules. UPDATE: It also appears that Ed saw a plane very similar to the CIA torture jet that has been using Ireland as an essential part of its war crime infrastructure.

The arresting officers cited Section 33 of the Air Transport and Navigation Act, which only restricts photographs in certain areas (such as the airfield) not on the public roads.

Under Section 59 of the same act it says "lest there be any doubt, the road, is, for the purpose of any enactment, a public place."

UPDATE Wed 9th March: Ed Horgan visits Shannon again. Photos of warplanes.

UPDATE: ALL CHARGES DROPPED IN COURT TODAY 27/1/05

"Our politicians should be reminded that the killing of one Iraqi person is as much a crime as the killing of Jean McConville"

The 27th January 2005 is the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. A minority of German people, and others, perpetrated the Holocaust but the majority contributed indirectly by their silence. Since 20 March 2004, over 100,000 innocent Iraqis have been killed in an illegal war. The people of Ireland have been complicit in these deaths because we allowed the US military to use Shannon Airport, as a vital part of its war logistics.

On the 27th January 2005, the Shannon boat people, Edward Horgan, Aron Baker and Eibhlin ni Hir, go on trial in Ennis Co Clare, for protesting against this illegal use of Shannon airport. They were arrested during the Bush visit in June 2004, in a small rowing-boat, while peacefully protesting on the river Shannon. They could face a large fine or imprisonment. It took the combined forces of the Irish Navy, the Gardai, the Irish Air Corps, the Shannon Foynes Harbour Authority, with a US warship standing off Irish territorial waters, to arrest this fearsome trio, who were armed with a protest sign saying "Bush Go Home".

This protest was their way of breaking the silence of complicity. Please help publicise the ongoing abuse of Shannon airport, and the killing of innocents in Iraq, by contacting your local media, politicians, and other contacts. During 2004, 158,549 heavily armed US troops passed through Shannon airport, on their way to the war and occupation of Iraq, and we allowed this to happen. It was the likes of this that made the Holocaust possible.

We three appreciate your support, but it is not we who need support, it is the people of Iraq. They also need your peaceful actions to deny Shannon Airport to US troops and munitions. Our politicians should be reminded that the killing of one Iraqi person is as much a crime as the killing of Jean McConville. The killing of 100,000 Iraqis is 100,000 crimes against humanity.

Edward Horgan.

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Secret Deals and Treaties? The scale and significance of US military use of Shannon airport has taken on a new dimension with the revelations that Shannon has become part of the illegal movement and torture of prisoners, and the airport's increasing level of use by US military and civil leaders. This begs the question, has the Irish Government done a secret deal with the United States, granting US citizens immunity from arrest and procecution under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court?

I am making these allegations in all seriousness and with genuine concern. I have no intention of wasting police time. I am making serious allegations about serious and worrying crimes. I state and I believe that serious crimes have occurred and are ongoing at the present time. I believe these crimes to include:

*Aiding and abetting TORTURE and unlawful detention (a crime against humanity) by means of facilitating unlawful landing at Shannon airport of an aircraft known to be used in the transport of people taken without charge or trial to a place of torture and unlawful detention for an indefinite period of time.

These words were found in the complaint that four members of MAMA lodged with the Gardai on 2nd October 2004. Over the next two months, regular planespotter and indy reporter Tim Hourigan communicated with the Gardai - the details are within.

In other Shannon news, Dick Cheney graced the airport with a visit and attempts were made to muddy the trail with Jets, Jet Companies and Handling companies changing names and owners.

Mary Kelly Vs The State Trial Updates

Commenteer: There hasn't been an "immediacy clause" for the necessity defence Mary is using since 1997, when the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act amended the Criminal Damage Act (1991).

Two Anti-war activists interrupt Fianna Fáil ceremony by unveiling banner and heckling high profile party members. Questionable behaviour from Youthful FFers follows.

In other breaking news a Judge rules that objectively observed cause and effect reality be discounted when it comes to Shannon Airport.

Oh if this all seems a little fucked up - Don't worry - Terry Leyden sez it's all ok because his nephew is in the US Military . . . .