THE controversy over Ireland’s alleged collusion in the unacceptable US practice of airlifting suspects for interrogation and torture took an extraordinary twist yesterday when it emerged that a convicted US marine, shackled and in military custody, was transferred through Shannon Airport last Sunday with the knowledge of the Irish Government.

FOR three weeks in September, General John de Chastelain and his two colleagues on the international decommissioning body were driven around in a van with blacked-out windows to secret places where vast quantities of IRA arms awaited them.

TAXPAYERS may have to pay the €1.1 million repair bill for damage caused to a US Navy plane at Shannon by a peace activist.

Two reports probing allegations of collusion between Irish security forces and IRA killers are to due to be published today.