Investigations into airport security breach

AER RIANTA and the gardaí have launched investigations into how an anti-war protester breached security at Shannon airport and vandalised a US Air Force jet without being detected.

Two anti-war protestors, Eoin Dubsky, 22, and Tim Hourigan, 27, were arrested in the early hours of yesterday morning after Mr Dubsky scaled the airport perimeter fence and sprayed a peace sign and an anti-war message on the side of a US military plane. The C1-30 Hercules transport plane was parked in Shannon as the crew rested overnight.

Mr Dubsky, who called the airport switchboard to inform airport police that he was at the US military jet waiting to be arrested, appeared before Gort Circuit Court last night and was charged with damaging property under the Criminal Damage Act 1991.

Insp Tom Kennedy made an application that Mr Dubsky be remanded in custody because he feared that Mr Dubsky will "re-offend in the same fashion and manner if released".

He told the court that after Mr Dubsky spray painted the plane, he alerted airport authorities of his actions. Mr Dubsky was subsequently arrested by Shannon Gardai at 5.15am.

Insp Kennedy said that Mr Dubsky's presence in the airfield would pose enormous danger to other aircraft.

Judge Mangan remanded him on bail of 200 to re-appear before Shannon District Court on the October 17 and ordered him not go within five miles of the 5.6 mile perimeter fence that protectsShannon airport.

Mr Hourigan, a Green Party member who stood for election in Limerick East, was released without charge yesterday afternoon, although a file has been sent to the DPP. Aer Rianta spokesman John Reidy said they were satisfied with security measures at the airport.

“Our security is examined by the Federal Aviation Authority regulators and it has always been found to be adequate,” Mr Reidy said.

A spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Dublin said: “This is a matter of airport security and I guess that everybody in Ireland should be concerned that people can get onto a runway, but at the moment, it’s an ongoing legal case and I can’t comment any further.” The US Government always complied with every Irish Government condition for use of Shannon airport, she said.

Both Mr Dubsky and Mr Hourigan are involved in ongoing protests against US military aircraft using Shannon as a refuelling depot.

All military flights landing or going through Irish military airspace must be reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs and by law no armed aircraft is permitted to land.

Department figures show 1,801 military flights passed over Ireland and 489 landings took place from September last year to June of this year.