Four peace activists managed to get past the massive security operation at Shannon airport on Saturday and unfurl two large anti-war banners outside the main terminal building in protest at the arrival for the second time in five days of US president George W Bush.
Mr Bush's Air Force One used the airport as a refuelling stop last Wednesday on his way to Afghanistan, India and Pakistan and again on his return trip to Washington in the early hours of yesterday morning. Nine protesters marked his return.
A security operation involving 500 Garda, Army and Air Corps got under way around Shannon last Tuesday at an estimated cost of €750,000. Some 100 US Secret Service personnel began arriving in Shannon a fortnight ago.
The Garda public order unit, mounted unit and the elite emergency response unit were also deployed at Shannon as well as the Cork-based Army ordnance disposal team (bomb squad).
However, a small group avoided detection on Saturday and were allowed through a security check by posing as passengers on the 12.30pm Limerick-to-Shannon bus.