Anti-war pair arrested over breach of airport fence

TWO members of the US Veterans For Peace group were arrested at Shannon Airport yesterday after they breached security.

The pair were trying to reach a civilian aircraft used to transport troops for the US military. The Omni Air International Boeing 767 jet was parked at the terminal building at the time. The two protesters were spotted at around 10.30am by gardaí and airport police, and were quickly detained and taken to Shannon Garda station for questioning.

A protest by US Veterans For Peace and other local activists was held at the Co. Clare airport yesterday.

A spokesperson for Shannon confirmed: ‘Two intruders... were intercepted and detained within five minutes and taken into Garda custody.’

During an inspection of the airport perimeter fence, a damaged section was discovered where it is believed the men entered. Works were carried to repair the damage.

A spokesman for ShannonWatch, a group that monitors US military aircraft movements at Shannon, said the pair were a former Marine Corps major and a paratrooper in the US Army during the early Sixties.

Irish Veterans for Peace and ShannonWatch spokesman Edward Horgan said: ‘The Irish Government continually say we are a neutral country, but under the international oath of neutrality we must not allow troops and munitions to pass through our territory on their way to war.’