Airport and peace group in stand-off over flights

A stand-off emerged last night between Aer Rianta and anti-war protesters at Shannon Airport.

This followed protesters refusing a request by Aer Rianta to remove the peace camp established at the airport over the weekend to highlight the continuing use of Shannon by the US military.

The protesters set up the camp on Saturday on a green area just short of the entrance to the airport.

After they moved a caravan on to the area yesterday, the airport's operations manager, Mr Niall Moloney, accompanied by gardaí and airport police, went to the site to ask them to vacate the site and remove the peace camp.

After the meeting he said: "I told them that they are on Aer Rianta property and I was told by them that they would move on."

Mr Moloney made a second visit to the site last night with a map showing the protesters that Aer Rianta owned the property.

However, one peace activist, Ms Mary Kelly, said last night that the protesters needed to see Aer Rianta's registered title to the site in question before making a decision as to whether to remove the caravan or not.

Facing a third night of sub-zero temperatures at the peace camp, Ms Kelly said: "We are very committed to staying here and even if we move the caravan off site, we are going to remain here and will sleep round the camp fire in our sleeping bags."

She went on: "We are getting fantastic support, but we hope that is not a one-day wonder because we are here for the long haul and we are asking people for their continued support."

Along with the peace camp the protesters have also established a "peace house" in Shannon to monitor US aircraft transferring troops and supplies through Shannon en route to the Gulf region.