Five anti-war activists have appeared at Ennis District Court relating to alleged offences arising from the ongoing opposition against the use of Shannon airport by the US military.
In order to deal with charges arising from the alleged criminal damage of a US navy aircraft in February and from an anti-war protest in Shannon last Saturday, Judge Joseph Mangan is to set aside two special court dates.
The court was told that the case against the five anti-war activists charged with the criminal damage of a US navy aircraft last month is to be disposed of in the District Court.
Insp Tom Kennedy told the court yesterday that the matter could be dealt with on a summary basis, but that the exact scale of the damage to the aircraft has yet to be determined.
In response, solicitor for the five, Joe Noonan said that there had obviously been a change of heart from the DPP as the early indications were that the matter would be dealt with in the Circuit Court.
Four of the five, Damien Moran (22), Deirdre Clancy (32), Nuin Dunlop (31) and Karen Fallon (30) have remained in custody for over four weeks despite securing consent to bail. Ciaran O'Reilly (42) is the only one of the five to opt for his release from custody.