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Activist group admits damage of US plane at Shannon Airport

Letter published proves attack was predetermined

KERRY O’SHEA,

IrishCentral Intern

Published Thursday, December 29, 2011, 7:51 AM

Updated Thursday, December 29, 2011, 7:51 AM

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U.S. troops at Shannon airport

Photo by Google Images

An unnamed activist group has claimed responsibility for the vandalism on a plane used by US military personnel at Shannon Airport in the early hours of December 20th. The incident had gone unclaimed until yesterday, when the monthly bulletin of the Galway Alliance Against War published "handwritten communication we received from one of the members of the peace team that sabotaged a US troop transporter at Shannon warport".

The Irish Examiner reports that the Alliance verified with the sender of the letter that he or she took part in the vandalism at Shannon Airport. The letter goes on to clarify the motive of the timing of the attack: “It was appropriate to carry out this peace action in Christmas week, when the media and politicians’ speeches, the world over, are full of hypocritical Christian cant about peace, while they support and even profit from wars in far off lands."
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The letter also details how the group went about their security breach at Shannon. The Irish Examiner writes that the group was dropped off around a perimeter fence at the Co Clare airport and quickly made their way through two more fences. They located the aircraft, a DC-10 jet operated by OmniAir International under US Air Mobility Command contract, which was “completely deserted” according to the letter, despite busy activity in the airport itself.

Then, the group embarked on their sabotage of the aircraft. The letter published reads that "Beforehand we agreed we would immobilise the hydraulics of all the landing gear. Four sets of landing gear were sabotaged. This was all pre-planned. Another peace activist sprayed the words: ‘Peace — US troops out’ on the side of the plane."

Shannon Airport has been a point of contention for many anti-war activists, as it often serves as a lay-over and refueling port for US military aircraft. About 600 troops pass through the Irish airport everyday to and from conflict areas in the Middle East. At a protest last month, one US Veteran said “neutrality of Ireland is being undermined and trampled upon by the US military.”

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IrelandNorth | Jan 04, 2012, 08:34 AM EST

Shannon is an airport not a military airbase. Just because successive Irish governments have been spineless about asserting Ireland's neutrality to preserve their own privileged status leads to acts of sabotage just like this. Violence is the language of the unheard. And being anti-American foreign policy is not being anti-American.

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joycean | Dec 31, 2011, 04:07 PM EST

Seagreen, i have been through security screenings at Hahn, Frankfort, and Dublin for flights back and forth between Germany and Dublin on Ryanair. The process was the same as at American airports although the Germans conducted the ones in Germany and the Irish in Dublin. At Frankfort going to the US there were 2 screening areas, one for planes to the US, one for planes headed elsewhere. People going to Isreal face even tougher screenings by Isreali security than Americans do. Flights within the US or from the US out of the country are also screened. Since a plane was damaged, I don't think its reasonable to say the Irish are providing adequate security.

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joycean | Dec 31, 2011, 03:23 PM EST

Seagreen Customs? where you declare purchases, or TSA screening, where they check for weapons, liquids,etc.?

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seagreen | Dec 31, 2011, 02:49 PM EST

gobdawpaddy, "Irish authorities are incapable of protecting Shannon" "screening potential vermin" (a la Michael Savage) Does Canada, Britain, Germany, or anyone else have customs stationed at a foreign airport? Shannon is an Irish airport, and from what I have seen, the Irish are quite capable of taking care of things. You may be unhappy they have not turned it into an armed camp or paramilitary atmosphere like we have done.. Because America chooses to involve it self in worldwide military action, the rest of the worlld cannot be expected to succomb to our desire to turn its airport into another American base. The word "soverignty" means little to us when we want our way! I stated in my post, that I am totally against any action that would damage an aircraft, or any other device that would cause injury or worse, however the right to protest against things that are happening that are not so nice is a right. I'm sure I fit your description of Vermin.

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gobdawpaddy | Dec 31, 2011, 06:06 AM EST

Seagreen laments the US Customs and pre-immigration post at Shannon. It is obvious from the trespass of these 'activists' that the Irish authorities are incapable of protecting Shannon, so I am delighted that there is a US presence screening potential vermin en-route to the USA. I have witnessed the 'not a bodder' approach in so many facets of Irish life.

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ciaradexy | Dec 30, 2011, 10:50 AM EST

Cynicus, Ive noticed theres a theme to your post. You support the war efforts against muslim leaders. What about countries where christians are killing muslims or other African countries where genocide is an everyday occurance?

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joycean | Dec 30, 2011, 10:47 AM EST

cynicus, Thank you for your support. I read the entire article and noted that the saboteurs involved in the damage to the Navy plane in 2003 were aquitted, possibly emboldening the latest group. Our government has obviously demanded stricter security for military planes at Shannon. This was a commercial charter, so it was left vulnerable. Still, there is no excuse for damaging the plane. I hope our TSA will add every member of these Shannon protesters to the NoFly list, and if anyone of them ever gets on a plane headed in this direction, the plane will be forced to turn back to where ever it came from, escorted by F15s ready to shoot it out of the air. That would be a very inconvenient experience for everyone on the plane, not to mention how unpleasant TSA has already made flying for all of us.

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Penny55 | Dec 29, 2011, 10:05 PM EST

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cynicus | Dec 29, 2011, 03:44 PM EST

I support the U.S. war effort against the likes of Saddam Hussein, Ghadaffi, BIn Laden- and all other tyrants. I welcome U.S. troops in Ireland. I consider those who caused criminal danage to the military plane as criminals. Ireland does not need such toe-rags disgracing our national image.

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seagreen | Dec 29, 2011, 01:57 PM EST

Cannot in any way agree with anyone damaging an aircraft. As we all know, that is a potential disaster for all, wether you be pro or con. Another issue? How long do you think the average American would tolerate foreign soldiers all over their airport day after day, and year after year? The soldiers are decent, and are courteous, ( I have sat in those very seats in the photo) however, it is just a bit much for Irish or those from the EU to see this presence, then look down the end of the lobby and see American Customs taking up the entire end of the room...

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Brolaur | Dec 29, 2011, 01:16 PM EST

Just because it's good for business doesn't mean it's good for Ireland. I think it's disgraceful that any country would facilitate soldiers going in to an ILLEGAL war or any war for that matter. Maybe the government should be preventing this happening but since they're not, congrats to the Peace Activists.

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