Whistleblowing ‘Guantanamo granny’ back in court

clare | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Friday September 13, 2013 13:49

by Margaretta D'Arcy

Court Case of Shannon Airport arrests Margaretta D'Arcy and Nial Farrel

A packed courtroom yesterday erupted into laughter after ‘Guantanamo Granny’-79-year-old anti-war activist Margaretta Darcy,
blew a whistle and declared: “I am a whistleblower”.

Margaretta D'Arcy and Nial Farrel outside Ennis Court

Unusually, the case against Margaretta D'Arcy and Niall Farrell was dealt with before lunch at Ennis District court yesterday (Wednesday, 11th Sept). Normally cases involving peace activists tend to be postponed until the end of the court session, thereby inconveniencing the peace activists as much as possible. Perhaps it was because Margaretta and Niall were dressed in orange Guantanamo style boiler suits that the authorities decided to get them out of court as quickly as possible.

Because of the nature and possibly seriousness of the charges, Judge Durkan had mentioned at the previous hearing on 10 July that issues of jurisdiction arose in the case, so there was a question of whether the case would be referred to the higher Circuit Court level. Judge Durkan announced on Wednesday that the DPP had decided that the case/cases should be dealt with at the lower District Court level, and he also announced that he, Judge Durkan had decided that he himself would also accept jurisdiction over the cases. This seemed to indicate that the State wished to play down the importance of the cases, perhaps to ensure the matters get as little publicity as possible.

It was also noticeable at the hearing that the Judge and the Gardai adopted a very tolerant approach to the defendants in spite of the manner of their dress in court that at times included Niall Farrell wearing an Obama mask, and in spite of what could be termed "political" type remarks by the defendants. Judge initially said he wished to deal with the cases and the charges separately, but eventually he agree to consider them all together.

Since the last hearing on 10 July when the same Judge was considering the alleged offences of Margaretta D'Arcy and Niall Farrell being on the main runway at Shannon airport on 7 October 2012, Margaretta and Niall were once again arrested on the same main runway at Shannon airport on 1 September 2013. Their reasons for this second incursion on to the runway included the fact that the "improper" use of Shannon airport by the US military and CIA that they had been protesting in 2012 was still going on, and the possibility of a US military attack on Syria being facilitated by Shannon airport obliged them to once again highlight this improper use of the main runway at Shannon airport.

Inspector Kennedy stated that Garda witnesses in these cases included Garda O'Connor and Garda Sergeant Michael O'Connor. He said that Garda statements and papers in this case were still being compiled and he suggested adjourning the cases until 2nd October 2013. It was not clear whether this was an adjournment for mention and setting a future date for trial, or if the trial was to go ahead on 2nd of October. From previous experiences it is most likely that the 2nd October hearing is for mention only and dealing with preliminary matters. Niall Farrell asked for a Garry Doyle order whereby the State's witness statements and other case papers would be made available to the defence and this was agreed.

Niall Farrell said that they had not committed any offence and that their actions were acts of humanity highlighting crimes against humanity. He was ordered to sit down and remain silent by the judge who said that otherwise he would be removed from the court. Niall then said that the public and the all the people of Ireland had blood on their hands as a result of the actions of our Government at Shannon airport. Niall was then removed from the court and as he was being removed he put on his Obama mask. As Niall was being removed from the court he said loudly: "you can remove me from the court but you can't remove the blood that stains Shannon airport and the hands of the Irish people."

Margaretta D'Arcy said that their actions were the actions of whistle-blowers, and she then took a whistle out of her pocket and blew the whistle loudly in the court-room.She stated “I am a whistle blower and I witnessed the build-up of the USA warmongers to the invasion of Syria last weekend at Shannon. The Irish Government are complicit in this threatened illegal invasion by aiding and abetting the warmongers at Shannon The people of the World have said No to WAR.”

This action did not seem to incur the same reaction from the Judge as he had reacted to Niall Farrell's remarks. Margaretta emphasised that actions were to expose the crimes against humanity being facilitated by US warplanes at Shannon, and she stated that over the past week, there were increased number of such warplanes at Shannon.

The hearing ended quickly just before lunchtime, when Inspector Kennedy and Judge Durcan agree that the hearing be adjourned until 2 October. When Margaretta attempted to make further remarks the Judge called for the next case, and the defendants and their supporters retired to a local hostelry for a well-deserved lunch.

It should be noted perhaps that the judges at Nuremberg were succinct when they stated that: "Individual citizens have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity." Margaretta and Niall strongly believe that the ordinary people of Syria, and countless others, and their own self-respect, deserve nothing less now.

Caption: Video Id: 8gnuU7bOYTI Type: Youtube Video
Irish Anti-War Activists in Court for Blocking Shannon Airport's Runway,

save preference

Comments (6 of 6)

well done Niall & Margeretta

by fred

Fri Sep 13, 2013 14:34

For treating the kangaroo court system with the respect it deserves because of it's consistent collusion in the deliberate ill treatment of democratic protesters over the years.

BRAVO Margaretta D'Arcy and Niall Farrell

by brionOcleirigh - AllVoices

Fri Sep 13, 2013 15:44

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act" George Orwell, so yes they are both brave whistleblowers and A great example for the Irish youth still brainfilthed !

Al Qaeda AirForce Out Of Shannon Ireland NOW!

AL QAEDA AIRFORCE OUT OF SHANNON

VERY well done by EVERYBODY involved with last Wednesday's Ennis District Court Case!!

by W. Finnerty

Sat Sep 14, 2013 11:45

September 14th 2013 "bigger picture update" (of sorts) from Human Rights Ireland ...

=== === ===

'The text in the several sections indicated below, parts of which were written by international political analyst, researcher and consultant Adrian Salbuchi, was used as the message-text in an e-mail sent last Thursday afternoon (September 12th 2013) to the United Nations titled:

" ... global criminals gone berserk ..."'

=== === ===

Yesterday morning, September 13th 2013, the earlier mentioned message-text (i.e. the same message-text as that used for the September 12th 2013 UN e-mail) was sent to Colette Nolan who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Republic of Ireland's Irish Advocacy Network. A full copy of the e-mail used, which was copied to several of her work colleagues (using the same e-mail), can be viewed at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/ColetteNolanCEOofIris...l.htm

An e-mail containing the same above-mentioned UN message-text was also sent yesterday (September 13th 2013) to the British Monarchy, and to a selection of UK Members of the House of Commons, and the House of Lords. A full copy of the e-mail used can be viewed at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/BritishMonarchy/13Sep...l.htm

In addition, and also sent yesterday, an e-mail was dispatched to an international Group of MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) which also featured the same above-mentioned UN message-text (of September 12th 2013):
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/MEPs/13September2013/...l.htm

=== === ===

Related Link:
"United Nations, government corruption, crime, cover ups, IMPUNITY, Human Rights Ireland ..."
http://tinyurl.com/ojwc84l

Al-Qaeda chief Ayman calls for U.S. attacks and economic boycott

Sat Sep 14, 2013 12:36

Seeing as you mentioned the UN thus may be relevant: "Al-Qaeda chief Ayman calls for U.S. attacks and economic boycott

By Agence France-Presse
Friday, September 13, 2013 6:28 EDT
An image provided by SITE Intelligence Group on February 12, 2012 shows al-Qaeda chief Ayman
Topics: ayman ♦ Site Intelligence Group

21
Al-Qaeda chief Ayman, in a speech marking the 12th anniversary of 9/11, called for attacks on the United States and a boycott of the world’s largest economy.

A summary and translated English excerpts of the roughly 72-minute address was made available by the SITE Intelligence Group.

The speech was posted on jihadi forums a day after America held ceremonies in honor of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

“We should bleed America economically by provoking it to continue in its massive expenditure on its security, for the weak point of America is its economy, which has already begun to stagger due to the military and security expenditure,” Zawahiri said according to the SITE translation.

“And keeping America in tension and anticipation only costs a few disparate attacks here and there, meaning as we defeated it in the gang warfare in Somalia, Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan, so we should follow it with that war on its own land,” he added.

Aymani went on to say that these strikes could be “done by one brother or a few of the brothers” and that it was worth waiting for the right moment in order to mount a large-scale attack.

“With these strikes, we must monitor and lie in wait and seize any opportunity to land a large strike on it, even if it takes years of patience for this,” he said.

Aymani also referenced the twin bomb blasts at the Boston marathon in April that left three dead and scores wounded and maimed.

“The Boston incident confirms to the Americans the extent of their lying and tricking of themselves, and their arrogance from accepting the truth that is as bright as the sun, which is that they are not facing individuals, organizations or groups, but they are facing an uprising Ummah [Muslim community], that rose in jihad to defend its soul, dignity and capabilities,” he said.

According to the SITE summary, Ayman also urged jihadists in war-torn Syria not to cooperate with Protestants."

Ayman

More on Al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri's recent speech ...

Sat Sep 14, 2013 14:27

"The speech was posted on jihadi forums a day after America held ceremonies in honour of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001."

"Al-Qaeda chief Ayman calls for U.S. attacks and economic boycott ...": http://tinyurl.com/q44e8u2

Al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayman_al-Zawahiri

=== === ===

Article 28.3.1 of Bunreacht na hEireann (constitution of the Republic of Ireland): "War shall not be declared and the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann."

The excerpt (the part in quotes) just above has come from: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/en/constitution/index.html

I'm not sure if our State (Republic of Ireland) ever did get the "assent of Dáil Éireann" -- for "participating" -- in the ILLEGAL (under international law) invasion of Iraq, for example? It would be VERY strange if they did: allowing for the well-known illegality of that particularly nasty piece of outrageous "Bush/Blair" CRIME which has already cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of people (and possibly millions according to some reports).

Personally, I would not be in the SLIGHTEST bit surprised if our State didn't get the necessary -- required by law -- assent.

Much more likely -- I suspect (???) -- that our lily-livered, greed-and-corruption ridden, and grossly ignorant, Dáil Éireann occupants would have UNLAWFULLY caved into one or other of the George W. Bush's crime-ridden type mantras? Such as (for example):

"All those who fail to 100% support our 'war on terror efforts' (so called!!) will be treated as the arch-enemies of the United States of America".

and/or:

The constitution "is just a goddamned piece of paper" and "don't anybody EVER talk to ME -- GEORGE W BUSH -- about it being the SUPREME LAW of the land, and all of that very silly and COMPLETELY OUTDATED verbal rubbish and nonsense" (or words to that effect).

"Do you NOT know who I, GEORGE W BUSH am? Do you not realise that, among MANY other things, I can walk on water, catch and stop bullets with my teeth, and -- far better than ANYTHING Christ could EVER do -- that I can even shit ice-cream (for example): so mind what you say in my presence!!".

"Know what I mean 'Arry"?

Related Link #1:
"The Constitution is just "a goddamned piece of paper", Human Rights Ireland ..."
http://tinyurl.com/omc75b7

=== === ===

Related Link #2:
"War on terror, Shannon Airport, Article 28.3.1 of Bunreacht na hEireann, Constitution of the Republic of Ireland ..."
http://tinyurl.com/q7b3w45

Well done!

by Maura Harrington

Tue Sep 17, 2013 21:16

Well done to you both.

Hope to see you on the 2nd October.

Number of comments per page

Upcoming Events

New Events

Other Press

User Preferences

Feeds

Blog Feeds

Anti-Empire

The Saker

Lockdown Skeptics

Voltaire Network

Whistleblowing ‘Guantanamo granny’ back in court

Comments (6 of 6)