ANTI-WAR GRANNY
CAUSES COURT
UPSET IN ENNIS:
An anti-war granny caused mayhem in a court room when she confronted a judge in a bright orange jump suit.
Disabled Margaretta D’Arcy, 79, refused to stand down
from a bench in front of Judge Patrick Durcan at Ennis (Co Clare) District
Court - and the hearing had to be halted. Ms Darcy appeared in connection with
the alleged interference of the proper use of Shannon Airport last October 7,
2012, by going on the runway without permission. Ms D'Arcy, a well known artist, is a veteran of the Irish and International Peace Movement and has been a regular attendee, health permitting, at the monthly Peace Protest at the gates of Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, in the west of Ireland near Limerick city since the protests began following the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003. Since the invasion there has been large-scale use of the Airport by the US Military despite public opposition in Ireland, an officially neutral country.
When the case was
called last Wednesday,10 July Ms Darcy, of Woodquay, Galway, approached the bench the better to hear
and see the judge properly because of poor sight and hearing. She then stood on
the bench below the judge's podium to hear Judge Durcan say he was going to
adjourn the matter to September 11 next because her co-accused wasn’t in court.
Ms D'Arcy – who
needs a zimmer frame with wheels to walk - said that she wanted the judge to
dismiss the summons against her as it is inaccurate. Judge Durcan said: “That
is a matter for hearing and not for today.” The judge then asked Ms
D'Arcy: "Will you please go down to ground level and stand on the ground
for safety reasons. I will not have you standing on the bench.” Ms D'Arcy
refused and replied: “I am going to stand here. We have to see each other as
equals. It is the citizens of Ireland that own the courts. In response, Judge
Durcan said: “You are going to be removed. I am going to suspend the court for
two minutes.”
As the judge was
walking from the bench, Ms D’Arcy called out after him: “So you don’t want a
conversation with me around the word ‘proper’ and the use of the airport as a
military airport. Murder, Complicity in murder. Run, run away and never hear
the truth.” Ms D'Arcy then stepped down from the bench with the assistance of
two Gardaí (Irish police)and she was then applauded by her supporters in court, including
retired UN Assistant Secretary General,
Denis Halliday, and well-known
anti-war activist Dr Ed Horgan.
On returning to
court, Judge Durcan said that on the adjourned date in September, he would
decide if the case will be heard in the district court or the circuit court. This
is an obvious dodge by the state prosecutor to avoid hearing evidence of the
misuse of the civilian airport at Shannon by the US Military since the invasion of Afghanistan
in 2001 with the full collaboration of Irish
Governments since then despite public opposition. The local Shannonwatch
organisation, who monitor US Military activities at the airport, had brought to
court a wheelbarrow (literally) of documentary evidence of the violations of
Irish and International law occurring there in the past 10 years.
http://www.shannonwatch.org/blog/margaratta-darcy-leaves-court-her-questions-unanswered
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