This article is from page 3 of the 2006-04-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
A CLARE politician who supports the use of Shannon Airport by US troops, has welcomed calls from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to have Shannon planes searched for rendition prisoners.
Green Party Councillor, Brian Meaney, said that the “taint of having any involvement in this inhumane business should be removed from Shannon.”
Councillor Meaney said that it was a “source of great shame that Shannon should be considered as a wayleave for these appalling flights where people are deprived of their basic human rights.”
The Clare councillor said that the “only thing we can do is to have any suspect flights searched. The US should allow us this freedom to ensure that Shannon is not tarnished with these allegations.”
UN Commissioner Louise Arbour said that more proactive initiatives on checking planes from states that could be involved in “extraordinary rendition” would be welcomed.
Arbour made the remarks while in Dublin last week to receive an honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland and to visit the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC).
Earlier, the Government had restated that it was satisfied with assurances from the US that planes that landed here were not carrying prisoners bound for torture, after Amnesty International published a report, which stated that planes regularly used for rendition had flown through Shannon.
But speaking in Dublin, the commissioner said that the Government’s position represented an unsatisfactory approach.
“Wilful blindness on the part of
states to the ultimate purpose of ex-
traordinary rendition is unacceptable.
Where there is a risk of torture, there
shouldn’t be any resort to diplomatic
assurances,” Arbour said.
She said she understood that the
Government could board CIA flights
if there was any evidence that the
flights were being used for an illegal
purpose.
“In the current climate, I would wel-
come even more proactive efforts on
the part of all governments,” she said.
“I would welcome initiatives that
go beyond the legal requirements,
like seeking authorisation for random RESPONDING to question put to him by The Clare People , the acting Chief Fire Officer for Clare County Council, Anthony Travers, said that it is unlikely that John could have been saved if a better supply of water had been available.
“When the fire services arrived at the scene the fire was already well developed with flames coming through the roof,” said Mr Travers. “Any fatality that had occurred would have already occurred at this time.
“There is a programme ongoing in conjunction with the Sanitation and Water Services to map the locations of all the fire hydrants in County Clare.”
With each fire engine carrying approximately 400 gallons of water it is
searches. It would be a very good sig-
nal from governments to see for them-
selves what is happening rather than
rely on assurances.”
The IRHC commissioner, Michael
Farrell, welcomed Arbour’s com-
ments.
“We very much welcome the com-
ments of the High Commissioner on
the issue of extraordinary rendition
and her supportive attitude on the is-
sues in which the IHRC are actively
engaged, including the drafting of the
proposed UN disability treaty and the
position of migrants in Ireland.” not an uncommon practice for water ‘ferrying’ to occur in rural areas.
The Kilshanny and Kilfenora communities have been left devastated following the tragic fire.
“The first thing is the state of shock at what has happened,” said local Priest Fr Joe Roche. “He had been in the village earlier in the evening. He was a very well liked man from a very well known and liked family.
“There hasn’t been a tragedy like this in the area in a long time and the people are awfully shocked at what has happened. Words are fairly useless at occasions like these and it is the presence of friends and loved ones that will be of real support to the family.”