WALLACE AND DALY GUILTY OF GAINING ILLEGAL ENTRY TO SHANNON AIRPORT
TDs Clare Daly and Wexford’s Mick Wallace have been found guilty of illegal entry to Shannon Airport but have vowed to continue their protests against US Military landings at the airport.
Both Independent Dail Deputies have been fined 2,000 euro each for what they described as a political statement at Shannon Airport last year after telling Ennis District Court they shouldn’t be jailed for exposing breaches of Ireland’s Neutrality.
Clare Daly and Mick Wallace admitted using a rope ladder to climb over the perimeter fence of Shannon Airport on July 22nd 2014, with Deputy Wallace asking for his ladder back during their trial in February.
The two anti-war campaigners said they were making a political statement in trying to inspect the American military aircraft for weapons, as they were left with “no other choice to get information” because officials are not carrying out searches of the aircraft that regularly land to refuel at Shannon.
But Judge Patrick Durcan ruled that quesions about Ireland’s Neutrality go beyond the remit of the District Court which shouldn’t be used as a battleground for protagonists who should use another forum to pursue their arguments.
Fining both Mick Wallace and Clare Daly 1,000 euro Judge Durcan stopped Deputy Wallace from making further remarks about Ireland’s neutrality including his claim that migrants are dying in the mediterranean because 30 million people are diplaced by war, which he said is being facilitated by Ireland.
