This article is from page 14 of the 2006-08-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
FIANNA FÁIL Senator Brendan Daly is calling for the DPP to appeal last week’s decision by a jury to acquit five anti-war activists, who were charged with damaging a US plane at Shannon airport over three years ago.
In the wake of the jury’s decision, Senator Daly wrote to Attorney General Rory Brady, asking that the decision be appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeal.
He also requested that the statement made by one of the accused, who pledged to shut down Shannon Airport, be sent to the DPP for direction on possible charges to be brought.
Pointing out that he was surprised by the verdict, Senator Daly said it sent out a “message that people can do damage to property and walk away. To add insult to injury, they (the defendants) then said they plan to cause further disruption at the airport.”
Labour Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, who hails from Clare, said she believed the verdict was “fair.”
“I would never condone damage to property, but I would share their opposition to the use of Shannon for rendition flights and soldiers going to war,” she said.
She said she would “totally disagree” with any attempts by members of the group to realise their threat to close the airport.
“I would certainly encourage them not to use any kind of method that will damage the operation of Shannon. My view is people are entitled to peaceful protest, but not anything else,” she added.
Meanwhile, anti-war activist Mary Kelly welcomed last week’s acquittal of the five defendants.
Ms Kelly (54) was given a twoyear suspended sentence for damaging the same plane at the centre of last week’s trial, after she was found guilty by a jury in Clare, in 2004.
“It has taken over three years to get this verdict. The court ruled that the disarming of a US warplane was lawful. Ordinary citizens took appropriate actions and this has been upheld by the court,” she told The Clare People .
“I was convicted for damaging this warplane. I chose to have the trial heard in county Clare, hoping that a Clare jury would take the opportunity to speak against the use of their airport for transport of belligerent foreign troops,” she said.
Weapons of Mass Destruction and kidnapped victims. The people of Ireland have appealed, lobbied, written letters, protested and taken direct action against the illegal use of Shannon. The government has refused to listen,” she said.