Three pro-Palestinian activists have been charged with criminal damage and trespassing after entering the runway at Shannon Airport in Co Clare on Saturday, May 17.
Palestine Action Éire said on Saturday that the three women - Nell, Jane, and Emma - entered the runway at Shannon Airport "attempting to inspect a plane on contract to the US military and sprayed the war-plane with red paint."
One of the women held an Irish flag that said "US MILITARY OUT OF NEUTRAL IRELAND" in front of the plane before being apprehended.
Palestine Action Éire shared this clip from the incident:
BREAKING ACTION AT SHANNON AIRPORT
3 Women have gone airside to inspect a US warplane at Shannon Airport.
‘Operation Siren’ have sprayed the warplane with red paint & held an Irish flag reading ‘US MILITARY OUT OF NEUTRAL IRELAND’
Ní saoirse go saoirse na bPalaistíne! pic.twitter.com/VHbPfOeEjz
— Palestine Action Éire (@pal_action_eire) May 17, 2025
The three women claim the plane at Shannon Airport was "supplying troops and munitions to active warzones in the Middle East, including Israel and Yemen," which they say is "in direct violation of Ireland’s constitutional commitment to neutrality, and in breach of international law."
Palestine Action Éire said that the women's claims are "contextualized" by reporting from Irish publication The Ditch, which reported that US weapons and military personnel regularly travel through Shannon Airport to the Middle East, including directly to Israel.
A statement from the three women given to Palestine Action Éire said: “Nothing makes me more cynical than to hear [Taoiseach] Micheál Martin and [Tanaiste] Simon Harris feign ignorance of the illegal arms being transported through Shannon by the US Military.
"It’s insulting – verified reports conclude these arms are destined for Israel for the purpose of genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people."
OPERATION SOUND THE SIREN: Three Women bravely disrupted and confronted a large plane contracted by the US Military at the Shannon Airport !
After 19 Months of live streamed Sl@ughter, Starvation and G€nocide, we think the people of Ireland must go further than just protesting pic.twitter.com/RoZO2ZAmK0
— Palestine Action Éire (@pal_action_eire) May 18, 2025
Other Palestine Action Éire activists staged a similar demonstration at Shannon Airport on May 1.
"Let's make a run for the Plane"
Palestine Action Éire actionists halt US Military CRAF flight at Shannon Airport pic.twitter.com/XoCvo0m1Rf
— Palestine Action Éire (@pal_action_eire) May 1, 2025
When asked about Saturday's incident, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told IrishCentral on Monday: "Gardaí responded to an incident of criminal damage at Shannon Airport, Co. Clare that occurred shortly after 4 pm on Saturday 17th May, 2025.
"Three females, aged between 20 and 50 years breached the perimeter fence and caused criminal damage. They were arrested at scene and conveyed to Garda Stations in Co. Clare.
"During the course of the arrests one member of An Garda Síochána was injured and has since been taken to University Hospital Limerick for assessment. Her injuries are non-life threatening.
"The three women have since been charged with one count of Criminal Damage Contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991 and one count of Trespass Contrary to Section 11 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 each and brought before a special sitting of the Ennis District Court on Sunday 18th May 2025 at 9pm.
"As this is now a matter for the courts no further information is available."
Palestine Action Éire said on Sunday that the three women had been released on bail. They were met by a group of supporters upon their release.
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