Are we really as neutral as we think we are?

Sean O’Riordan examines how the government is willing to turn a blind eye to some incursions into our territory by other nations but finds others to be unacceptable

WE LIKE to claim we’re neutral, but the reality is far different.

The Americans use Shannon as a base for shipping troops to fight in Afghanistan, the RAF protects our skies and we make belligerent noises when Russian military aircraft enter our airspace — but our silence is deafening when anyone else does.