Repairs costing over $2.5 million (€2.06 million) were carried out on the US naval aircraft five anti-war protesters are accused of damaging at Shannon airport, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury has heard.
All accused pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval aircraft, property of the US government and to glass door panels, property of Aer Rianta, at Shannon airport, Co Clare, on February 3rd, 2003.
The five accused are Damien Moran (25) and Ciaron O'Reilly (45), both living on South Circular Road, Rialto, and both working with homeless people; Nuin Dunlop (34), a US citizen and counsellor living on Walkinstown Road; Karen Fallon (34), a Scottish marine biologist living on South Circular Road, Rialto; and Deirdre Clancy (35), a copy editor of Castle Avenue, Clontarf.
Det Sgt Michael Houlihan agreed with Conor Devally SC, prosecuting, that during interview Mr O'Reilly told gardaí he did not believe the damage he had caused was criminal.
Mr O'Reilly provided a "statement of faith" to gardaí which was issued by the Dublin Catholic Worker movement and signed by the five accused.
The statement said the undersigned went to Shannon airport in a "life affirming" manner to a "place of preparation for slaughter" to "disarm and disable the war machine".
It likened the airport runway to the train tracks which led to Auschwitz.
The jury heard that, when charged at Ennis District Court in March 2003, Mr O'Reilly told gardaí that he went to Shannon airport not to commit a crime but to stop one. He said his actions contained "no criminal intent".
Mr Devally read into evidence a statement from Michael Schmitt, logistical programme manager for C40 aircraft based in Maryland, USA, saying that repairs carried out on the damaged aircraft cost $2,615,000.
The hearing continues.