Antimilitarist nose job

by: Caroline Lauer

Ireland: Earlier this week a woman peace activist was arrested after damaging a US military aircraft at Shannon Airport in Ireland. On 29 January Mary Kelly, 50, entered the airport and broke the nose of the plane with a hatchet. Kelly said she felt compelled to act after the Irish Transport Minister said he was allowing the transport of munitions through Shannon by US armed forces. She also said that the Gardai have failed to carry out a proper investigation and prevention of illegal military use of Shannon Airport.
Kelly appeared at Killaloe District Court for her action last Wednesday. She was remanded in custody with consent to bail on her own surety of E5,000, but she refused to sign the bail bond. She was remanded in custody to appear at Tulla District next Wednesday.
Following Kelly's actions, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen said security at Shannon Airport will be strengthened. The government said it would review the US military use of Shannon if there was unilateral action against Iraq without a United Nations mandate.
Protests have mounted against the US military's use of Shannon Airport for the possible war on Iraq as Ireland remains politically neutral. Shannon Peace Camp activist and Green Party leader Trevor Sargent have expressed their support for Kelly's actions. Last Wednesday, the Green Party's TDs (MPs) left the Irish parliament, the Dail, after raising a "No to War" banner. They raised their banner as Taoiseach was answering a question about the US military's use of Shannon Airport.
For more details of Irish anti-war actions, visit http://www.indymedia.ie.