Sargent calls Shannon action 'regrettable'

Monday February 03, 2003 15:55

by Eamonn Crudden

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the incident at Shannon was regrettable, adding that he wished it had not happened as it constituted a distraction from the main issues in the campaign against the buildup to war.

The Garda Commissioner, Pat Byrne, is meeting senior officers in Shannon in relation to recent breaches of security. He is due to travel to Limerick, to discuss recent events there.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has vowed to review security at Shannon Airport, in light of today's incident involving the plane which was damaged last week.

Five people were arrested at the airport this morning. It is understood the five managed to enter the old SRS hangar at the airport where the US Navy plane was being repaired.

Gardaí say the five - three women and two men - were detained at approximately 4am after they gained access to the hangar and damaged the aircraft. Three are being held at Ennis, two in Shannon.

A woman was remanded in custody last week after causing damage estimated at €500,000 to the same aircraft.

It is understood the group, who range in age from early 20s to early 40s, overpowered a Garda who was on duty there. Gardaí say they claim to be from the pacifist Catholic Worker movement.

Incident regrettable - Sargent

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the incident at Shannon was regrettable, adding that he wished it had not happened as it constituted a distraction from the main issues in the campaign against the buildup to war.

The North Dublin TD said whether the law had been broken or not would ultimately be decided by the courts, but he noted that the actions had not been endorsed by the peace camp protestors at the airport, and appeared to be part of what he called a 'solo run' by a particular group.

Protesters to blame - Brennan

The Minister for Transport has said that the blame for this morning's incident should be laid squarely on the protesters who broke into the building. Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Seamus Brennan said that the airport was an economic lifeline for the country and its operation should not be interrupted in this way.

The Peace Alliance, representing a number of religious orders and congregations has criticised the action. Brendan Butler, spokesman for the Alliance, called the attack 'counter-productive' and appealed to the demonstrators to use peaceful means only.

The Catholic Worker Movement - founded 70 years ago in America by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin - advocates renouncing war forever as an instrument of policy.

It has over 185 communities worldwide, including one recently established in Dublin.