Support anti-war action at Shannon Airport

Six and a half years ago I was arrested at Shannon Airport. At the time there was war in Palestine, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Somalia. Former Irish Commandant Dr. Ed Horgan and I attempted to search two US Navy C-40 aircraft which we believed were carrying military equipment from Norfolk Virginia to Al Udeid Airbase Qatar via Shannon.

I felt compelled to undertake non-violent action. As an Irishman I felt I could not permit the US Military use Ireland to wage famine and war on other countries. My goal was to try and end US Military use of Shannon Airport.

Shannon Airport runway was closed that night for maintenance meaning there was no risk of interruption to airport operations. The aircraft were protected by three soldiers and one garda. When we reached the aircraft I was forced to the ground at gunpoint and the guard arrested me. More Gardaí arrived and took Ed and myself to Shannon Garda Station where we were interviewed. We were brought to trial six years later, which lessened our chances of a fair trial. There were numerous court appearances in the intervening years and a lot of time to read the book of evidence and prepare for trial.

It was possible to avail of free legal aid. I consulted legal practices whose primary focus was my acquittal and thereby raising public awareness of what was going on at Shannon Airport. I was encouraged to focus on my belief there were weapons on board the aircraft carrying military cargo and I that believed people were going to die because of this.

It is my belief, that a trial focused on the Irish state breaking its own law would more effectively challenge the US Military practice of landing at Shannon Airport. A compilation of Acts of the Oireachtas and Statutory Instruments, and related EU documents was prepared. As I see it, there are serious breaches of Irish law at Shannon Airport. Therefore, state’s witnesses should be asked to outline in detail how areas are patrolled at Shannon Airport, in contravention of these Acts.

If it was possible to get the US Military out of Shannon by FOI, PQ, international cooperation, research, or by sending a tweet or petition, making a film, writing a song or a book, marching or protesting, that would have been preferrable to being arrested, and that would have already succeeded. Despite the fact thirty eight peace activists have been prosecuted for peace actions at Shannon Airport, (and nobody has been prosecuted for complicity and facilitating war crimes and torture at Shannon Airport), to me court offered the best chance of success.

There were two related trials between 2017 and 2023. Ken Myers and Tarak Kauff were found guilty of interference at an airport and monies to pay their fines were collected on the day. Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan had represented themselves and were acquitted of criminal damage which was the only charge against them.

Court began in January 2023 and ran for two weeks. After all the available witnesses had been heard, Ed Horgan took the stand and explained his action at Shannon Airport in the context of his life and in the context of US wars of aggression. I did not take the stand and focused on cross examination of the state’s witnesses. We had deliberately written on one of the aircraft to ensure its pilot would have to be called and would have been open to cross-examination. The prosecution failed to produce the pilot as a witness.

The Public Order Act defines trespass as with intent to commit an offence or to unlawfully interfere, intent which was not proven in court. Since receiving the verdict, one senior counsel, one law lecturer, and more than one practicing solicitor have explained that in the context of the now familiar to me Cronin case, an appeal was unlikely to succeed.

I’d like to thank my McKenzie friend who is a court watcher and was my legal researcher and who gave so much time to this case. In normal court circumstances he and I would have sat next to each other. However, we were separated in court by eight feet of Perspex and could not communicate properly.

I hope this was worth it. Time will tell. I believe some of the arguments raised in court were raised in an Irish court for the first time and will be raised again soon in a different legal context and with a more successful outcome.

Almost twenty Gardaí arrived to the scene where Ed and I were arrested. We were found guilty of trespass at the airport and were each ordered to pay €5,000 each to Clare Haven Services. Clare Haven Services support women and children experiencing domestic abuse. I am appealing for your help with paying the remaining €5,000 to Clare Haven Services which is due early next year.