Charges against four anti-war activists protesting at alleged US "rendition flights" going through Shannon airport last September were withdrawn by the State yesterday.
At Shannon District Court yesterday, Insp Kevin Moynihan told Judge Joseph Mangan that the charges against the four protesters were being withdrawn. No reason was given for the decision.
At the protest at a balcony at Shannon airport's terminal building on September 17th last, a group of protesters held a demonstration "calling on the Government to stop the US military and CIA using Shannon as a pit-stop for transporting prisoners on its 'extraordinary rendition' programme".
The US government denies that any prisoners have been transported through Shannon airport.
At the protest, three men in Guantánamo Bay prisoner suits unfurled a banner at the terminal building before airport police arrived to end the demonstration.
Four people were arrested and detained at Shannon Garda station overnight before appearing at a special sitting of Ennis District Court the following day - September 18th - to secure bail.
In court yesterday, charges against Liscannor man Niall Harnett (39) and Conor Cregan (33), Cronan Lawn, Shannon, for failing to comply with the lawful requirement of an authorised person under the Air Navigation and Transport Act were withdrawn.
Charges against two other anti-war activists who were not on the balcony were also withdrawn.
Margaret Liddy (34), Glengar, North Circular Road, Limerick, and St John O'Donnabháin, Lacus, Ath Stain, Kilkenny, had been charged with failing to identify themselves properly to airport police under section 33 of the Air Navigation and Transport Act.
Mr Cregan yesterday called on the Government to withdraw refuelling facilities and over-flight permission to the US military.
He said: "We cannot sit idly by while the Government lets the country's second international airport become an ad hoc US military base."
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