Evidence in a New York court has revealed that the CIA operated illegal rendition flights through Shannon Airport in Ireland.
Rendition involved flying terrorist suspects from the U.S. to countries allied to the U.S., where they were often tortured, according to a report in the Examiner.
A dispute between two private jet charter companies ended up in court in New York where the evidence has emerged that one of the companies regularly flew suspected terrorist suspects for the CIA through Shannon.
One of the companies in the legal battle, Richmor Aviation, was recorded landing in Shannon on many occasions between 2001 and 2005 in the aftermath of 9/11.
Court documents appear to show that one flight through Shannon was the rendition of the Egyptian cleric Abu Omar to a country in the Middle East where he was tortured. Another flight was said to contain Abd al Nashiri, the prime suspect in the bombing of the U.S. Navy ship the Cole in Yemen in 2000.
In Ireland, anti-war group Shannonwatch says the new evidence bolsters their belief that it has evidence of 20 suspected rendition flights through Shannon Airport.
"The airport facilities were used repeatedly over the years by private companies engaged in illegal and immoral activities," said a group spokesperson.
"Irish politicians now have to be made accountable for their failure to ensure that Ireland was not complicit in rendition, kidnap and torture."
Amnesty International Ireland also said the Irish government had failed in their duty by allowing the CIA flights and called on the new government to act differently.
"The Government has an opportunity to break with the failure of the previous administration to protect Irish airspace and human rights," said the organisation’s executive director, Colm O’Gorman.
He called on the government Committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions to investigate.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs referred to a speech by Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore, in which he said: "Shannon will not be used as a means of rendition, facilitating torture or any other activity which violates human rights."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelbourne | Sep 05, 2011, 07:44 PM EDT
Friendly nation means respect for each others opinions not to slavishly follow the U.S. American threats to small nations with a contra view is a form of colonialism. Maybe joycean could elaborate and inform us how unsafe Shannon airport is.
joycean | Sep 05, 2011, 09:38 AM EDT
JBRAFTREE, I've been to Ireland a number of times, and quite recently. My family is from Ireland, and I have relatives there. The Irish do like our money, but the country does not belong to NATO, and is belligerantly neutral. It is quite common there to oppose many US policies, especially military. BTW continued use of Shannon was one of Obama's talking points when he visited there. Kenny assured him that there would be no change. American military planes are allowed to land ther, but it is uncommon since there are safer airports in Europe.
timbobdennehy | Sep 04, 2011, 06:42 PM EDT
i could,nt give a flying feck,its an airport,technically not irish soil besides,ireland works on all-sides.its not neutral,its mercenary. at the moment there is a lack of irish people in ireland,they feck off every year to be replaced,by non-irish appropriating jobs.if i ever got to get past a gate in shannon,which is american soil,i could not leave the airport in america and set foot on american soil,until i was definitly no cause for concern.a neutral country,which still has irish people fighting for other forces.
JBRAFTREE | Sep 04, 2011, 05:24 PM EDT
joycean, the populace of the Irish people welcome US to their shores, they advertise that they need our tourism dollars, how can it be that you figure Ireland is not our friend, allie. I'm not sure about your'e ever having been to Ireland. Did an Irish guy kick you in the whatever??
joycean | Sep 04, 2011, 04:50 PM EDT
The dates mentioned are not recent(2001-2005). The planes were not US military planes, but charters that may not have the same fuel capacity. US military planes usually fly between military airports, not commercial, and can be refueled in mid-air. A US military plane was damaged at Shannon by these war protesters, much like the Cole. We do have allies in Europe, but Ireland is not one. Maybe if Americans realized how unfriendly the Irish are, they would stop wasting their money investing and visiting there.
GeorgeDillon | Sep 04, 2011, 12:32 PM EDT
True conservatives will never support torture. Bush was no conservative.
GeorgeDillon | Sep 04, 2011, 12:30 PM EDT
Trealach: I'll accept your denial, though I won't accept the abusive and cowardly language that permeates the expression of you and other Irish. You're all just Saturday night warriors and virtual bullies. And you didn't deny that you're a supporter of the contemptible Fianna Fail the Mass Immigration Party, the ones who have ruined Ireland. As to your other denials, I suppose next you'll even be denying you're a racist! Pull the other one. And what kind of weird obsessive are you that you stalk an Irish-American forum when you claim to hate America so much? You're like a eunuch in a brothel! I know you're some kind of Protestant fundamentalist, why don't you just buzz off and leave the rest of us normal folks alone?
JOHNTOBIN | Sep 04, 2011, 12:57 AM EDT
Going on some of the comments made regarding this article I would say that many Americans have very little knowledge of the outside world.Also the comment made by Pittsburghkid regarding class system.It may not be called that name but rich and poor people still live there.An example.How many people in America cannot afford basic health insurance which is taken for granted in many other western countries including your neighbour to the north,Canada.Would not be too sure either about Obama not being relected.The only good thing about Bush was that he opposed abortion.
cillowen | Sep 03, 2011, 06:52 PM EDT
still wondering why the attack - Be due to planting of a friend whom were bound forever to serve. the sheep voice the mantra line - no more french fries - why? another answer pending for the sheep to spout about. Oh excuse me, they have forgotten that one - can't keep up with fearing programming nonsense.
seanomelbourne | Sep 03, 2011, 06:40 PM EDT
pittsburghkid should ask himself the burning question why were we attacked and don't give me that Bush crap they wanted to destroy our lifestyle.Latest rendition news!! a senior figure in the new Libyan administration was sent by Bush to Tripoli to be tortured (2003).Somethings do return to bite you in the bum.
JBRAFTREE | Sep 03, 2011, 05:43 PM EDT
Trealach, Dillon doesn't speak for me, and I'm sure as hell not a liar.
sirpeter | Sep 03, 2011, 05:05 PM EDT
Georgy Boy now has to resort to been a liar.It's not worth answering your lies.I'll just let Trealach deal with ya.
JBRAFTREE | Sep 03, 2011, 03:06 PM EDT
This May, I had to take the train from Dublin to Galway. I actually missed a train from Ballinasloe to Dublin because they are so damned quiet.
JBRAFTREE | Sep 03, 2011, 03:02 PM EDT
Probably why air carriers stopped letting people off at Shannon, the last time I remember was Oct. 2002. People going to the West from Chicago simply have to land in Dublin.
Trealach | Sep 03, 2011, 12:15 PM EDT
@"Braid-dead" GeorgeDillion - you are a spineless cowardly American LIAR. I have NEVER supported the US rendition flights and NEVER said I believed the previous Government's assurance, which they allegedly received form your Village Idiot Bush! We already KNEW Americans ARE LIARS so why should we believe otherwise.
McNamara31 | Sep 03, 2011, 11:31 AM EDT
Security is indeed important however so is the economy of Shannon where the recent cancellation of Citylink bus service direct from Galway to Shannon, has adversly affected the airport. The only other choice makes about 10 stops and offers no direct service making it very inconvenient for people who do not rent a car. One taxi driver told me even though he is working 100 hour weeks his pay is still down 400E from two years ago because of the drop in people using Shannon. Two weeks ago (in August)when I departed Shannon the airport was dead.
Pittsburghkid | Sep 03, 2011, 11:28 AM EDT
You speak of torture. What about the innocent Americans who had to jump to their deaths. Weren't they tortured? Where is justice for them? The real problem with Ireland is that you have the same class system as England. My ancesters left Ireland, and became American, and now I can see why.
dinglebay | Sep 03, 2011, 11:24 AM EDT
These war criminals being transported want you and me and Western civilization dead. They are not angels, nor should they be treated as such. All nations need to participate in this- freedom is not always peaceful.
Pittsburghkid | Sep 03, 2011, 11:23 AM EDT
Innocent Americans were killed by these Muslims, and you are worried about your Airport a bunch of anti-war idiots. Where were these anti-war zealots on 911? America was attacked. Americans are not going to forgive or forget. This is why America is a great country. Come November, the Great American Apoligest will not be reelected.
cillowen | Sep 03, 2011, 10:59 AM EDT
beggars don't have a say - big kihuna mercenary merely execute our/their masters plan.
bunkerisland | Sep 03, 2011, 10:51 AM EDT
The US Army was allowed to establish a small temporary base at the Shannon Airport for years. Often hundreds of soldiers could be seen in the airport or around buildings a short distance away. It would be interesting to know how many US dollars were furnished for this opportunity.
SeamusMor | Sep 03, 2011, 09:37 AM EDT
So?
LoyalCitizen | Sep 03, 2011, 08:26 AM EDT
What's new. Law does not means much to the pretentious of mankind. Everybody else has to obey law.
GeorgeDillon | Sep 03, 2011, 08:22 AM EDT
The gangsters in Fianna Fail the Mass Immigration Party (they have supporters on this site e.g posters sirpeter aka antoman aka trealach) swore black and blue that this wasn't happening. I knew they were corrupt liars, so this report is no surprise to me. In a properly run society the Fianna Fail Mass Immigration party would be forcibly broken up and its leaders arrested. Won't happen in spineless Ireland, however.