Use of Shannon ‘is key for US war on terror’
Analyst Tom Clonan yesterday told Ennis District Court “if Shannon was being used by any other group to cause the type of damage that the 2.25m US troops that have passed through Shannon have caused, then the US would rightly identify it as a target”.
Dr Clonan was yesterday giving evidence in the case where TDs Clare Daly, 46, and Mick Wallace, 59, are appearing at concerning their alleged illegal entrance into a restricted area of Shannon airport on July 22.
Representing himself, Mr Wallace told the court the reason they entered the airport airfield was to search the military planes, because they were not being searched by the Irish authorities.
After gardaí presented in evidence yesterday the rope ladder that Ms Daly and Mr Wallace used to scale the airport fence, Mr Wallace asked Judge Patrick Durcan: “Can I have my rope ladder back?”
Judge Durcan replied that the issue could be dealt later in the case.
Earlier, CCTV footage has been shown to the court of the pair standing on a grass verge located inside the airfield and involved in conversation with airport police.
Airport Police Officer (APO) Declan Vaughan told the court that when he came across Mr Wallace and Ms Daly inside the perimeter fence on July 22, Mr Wallace requested the assistance of the Irish army to inspect a US military plane nearby. Two US military planes were on the runway nearby.
Sgt Donal O’Rourke told the court that, on meeting with the two, he was told by Mr Wallace that they “entered the airport in order to make a political statement regarding the use of Shannon airport for military purposes and to bring it to the attention of the mMinister because the minister is not listening”.
Sgt O’Rourke said Ms Daly cut her lip and two fingers when coming over the airport perimeter fence. He said she declined any medical assistance .
APO Vaughan told the court that all US military aircraft at Shannon airport receive the protection of the Irish army.
In his expert evidence on behalf of the accused, Dr Clonan said Shannon was a virtual forward airbase of US military.
He said the 2.25m US troops that have passed through Shannon since 2002 making it the largest invading force to have ever passed through Ireland, and that “Irish citizens are perceived now as a hostile party by Islamic resistance groups”.
Former catering contract worker at Shannon airport, Patrick O’Toole told how, when attending to a US flight carrying military personnel in 2003, he saw rifles under every seat.
At the start of the defence case yesterday, Judge Durcan said that he did not wish that his court takes on the role of the Skibbereen Eagle, which
is best known for a 1898 editorial where it warned it would keep its eye on the Emperor of Russia.
Mr Wallace and Ms Daly have yet to give evidence in the case. Judge Durcan adjourned the case to March 10.
