Photo of Colm (left) and Dave by Vicky Donnelly
At approximately 6 a.m. on May 25, there was a faith-based action at Shannon Airport in response to Ireland’s continuing support of U.S. wars conducted in the Middle East. Dave Donnellan and Colm Roddy entered the airfield and sprayed the main runway with red crosses to represent all the innocent blood spilt by these wars. They carried a banner reading “U.S. Military and CIA out of Shannon Airport” and an Irish flag, signifying the abuse of Irish sovereignty by U.S. military at Shannon Airport, while crossing two runways and walking over half a mile. Before entering the air field, they said some prayers for peace, for the victims of violence in the Middle East and for the suffering of refugees fleeing these wars being actively facilitated by the Irish Government, An Garda Siochana and the Shannon airport authority.
Two planes consecutively took off but the men weren’t detected until they reached a U.S. military Learjet, located on the old runway 11. As they walked past the Irish Army patrol vehicle they were spotted by the soldiers, who then alerted the Gardaí sitting in the nearby Garda Patrol car. The Airport Police were then called, and Donnellan and Roddy were arrested. They were later transferred into two Garda Patrol cars to Shannon Garda Station.
VIDEO OF ACTION here.
from The Journal
Two peace activists arrested on runway at Shannon Airport
The men were arrested for a suspected security breach
TWO PEACE ACTIVISTS have been arrested at Shannon Airport after making their way onto the runway.
The incident happened at 6 a.m. this morning [May 25], and the two men were arrested by gardaí airside at the airport (the part of the airport beyond customs and passport checks).
It is understood the men, aged 56 and 74, painted a red cross onto the runway at the airport and were attempting to inspect an aircraft that had been kept there overnight.
A picture of the Learjet C-21 was earlier shared on Facebook by anti-war group Shannon Watch, and is believed by them to be in use by the U.S. military.
The two men are currently being detained at Shannon Garda Station.
They are being held under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
This is the latest incident at the airport, which has seen a number of high-profile protests against its use by U.S. military.
Back in January 2014, then 79-year-old Margaretta D’Arcy was jailed for three months for trespassing on the runway at the airport.
TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace were both arrested July 2014 for breaches of security at the airport.
from The Irish Times
Two men arrested at Shannon Airport after ‘security breach’
Men detained after accessing runway through perimeter fence at about 6 a.m.
Two men have been arrested after a suspected security breach at Shannon Airport.
The pair were detained after accessing the runway through a perimeter fence at about 6 a.m.
The ShannonWatch group, which campaigns against the US military using the airport, said the men were “peace activists” taking symbolic action.
It is understood they tried to inspect a Lear jet they believed was being used by the U.S. Air Force, which was parked at the airport overnight.
A red cross was also drawn on a taxi area as part of the protest.
It is the latest security breach by activists at the airport with the most high profile occurring in 2014 when Independent TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace used a rope ladder to scale a fence.
The Galway Alliance Against War, which also campaigns against US military stop-offs in Shannon, claimed a plane was taking off during the incursion.
“This incident not only highlights Ireland’s complicity in the slaughter in the Middle East and Central Asia, but how easily security at Shannon warport can be breached. It is time to end this scandal at Shannon,” a spokesman said.