Protesters arrested at Shannon Airport:

                                          US Hercules aircraft at Shannon Airport, July, 2013

SYRIA CRISIS:
4 ARRESTED AT SHANNON
AIRPORT PEACE PROTEST:

Four people were arrested by Gardaí at Shannon Airport on Sunday night,
September 1st, 2013, during a peace protest by members of Galway Alliance
against War.
Protesters Niall Farrell and Margaretta D'Arcy gained access to the Airport runway
to stage their protest. Both have been arrested previously for similar activity and
are currently due for court appearances next month for previous charges. Two observers,
Tommy Donnellan, who was filming the event and Niall Carson, a local reporter, were also

arrested and taken to Shannon Garda station but were both released later without charge.
Mr Farrell and Ms D'arcy were due to appear in Limerick District Court Monday morning for
a hearing.

The Galway Alliance Against War released the following statement:

 

"Over the past twelve years consecutive Irish governments have colluded in Washington's campaign of wars from Afghanistan to Yemen, in which up to 2 million people have perished. By allowing the US military to use Irish airspace and Shannon airport to wage these wars we have become a willing accessory to mass murder. We have blood on our hands.

"Irish democracy has been subverted in the interests of this American war machine: the Greens and Labour entered government with a mandate to oppose Ireland's role in these wars and develop a policy of neutrality, but reneged on their promises. Therefore, we feel we have no alternative but to block the runway at Shannon to highlight Irish involvement in this carnage. We have also come on the runway to conduct, what President Higgins proposed, a "conversation" in public places about Irish society. There is no more relevant place in Ireland than Shannon airport's runway to discuss the need for the government to return to Ireland's traditional policy of neutrality and cease its collusion in these criminal wars.

"Once more the drums of war are beating, this time the Western powers, in particular the USA, have Syria in their sights. We call on the Irish government to follow the lead taken by neutral Austria and ban all military flights through national airspace and airports for any military operation related to Syria. We also call on the government to join with other governments throughout the world and oppose any use of force against Syria.

"The wars waged in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya have resulted in on-going death and destruction. These wars have not brought stability but the very opposite. It is time to give peace a chance!"

While Peace Protesters have regularly been arrested at this Airport, the Irish Government has repeatedly failed its responsibilities under International Law to prevent criminal activity
by the US military who have been using the Airport on a daily basis since 2003 and transporting illegal weapons supplies and kidnapped individuals for transport to the US torture camp at Guantanamo, Cuba. NO US aircraft have ever been searched by Irish authorities and no measures have ever been taken to protect human rights of individuals kidnapped and illegally detained and tortured by the US Military which the Irish Government is obliged to do in the case of any aircraft entering or using its airspace or ground facilities.