This article is from page 6 of the 2006-07-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
THE trial of five anti-war protesters accused of the criminal damage of an United States Navy aeroplane at Shannon Airport nearly three and a half years ago has begun at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The five accused are Ciaron O’Reilly (46), an Australian national and Damien Moran (25) both of Rialto Cottages, Rialto, Dublin; Nuin Dunlop (34), a US citizen and counsellor also living at Rialto Cottages, Rialto; Karen Fallon (35), a Scottish marine biologist at the same address; and Deirdre Clancy (36), a copy editor of Alverno Apartments, Clontarf.
They have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval plane, property of the United States Government and to glass door panels, property of Aer Rianta at Shannon Airport, Clare on February 3, 2003.
In opening the case to the jury Mr Conor Devally SC (with Mr Luan O Braonain BL), prosecuting, said that the incident occurred during a time in which there appeared to be a build up of military personnel in the Middle East and Shannon Airport was being used by the US military.
Mr Devally said that the US aircraft was in a hangar owned by Aer Rianta and that a garda was on duty keeping watch. The garda was patrolling the hangar at around 2.45 a.m. when he heard a loud bang as though glass was breaking and then saw five people enter the hangar carrying hammers.
They proceeded to use the hammers on the aeroplane as the garda pleaded with them to stop. Some time later they put down their weapons. Mr Devally said that the accused persons admit they carried out certain acts on the aircraft but will argue that they had a lawful excuse.
Detective Garda John Duffy told Mr Devally that he took photographs of the scene following the incident and found hammers, wire cutters, a mallet and items which made up part of a shrine.
He agreed that slogans such as “the war ends here”, “put a stop to war”, “death port” and “pit stop for death”, were engraved in the handles of the hammers.
Det Gda Duffy also agreed with Mr Brendan Nix SC, defending Fallon, that a plastic blow up hammer with “hammered by the Irish” written on it was found in the hangar.
The hearing is scheduled to last for over two weeks and continues before Judge Miriam Reynolds and a jury of seven women and five men.