Moore angered by anti-terror detention

SINGER Christy Moore has described his anger at being quizzed about his family and his songs while being held without explanation under anti-terrorism laws at a British port.

The 59-year-old and his driver were detained for two hours under the British Prevention of Terrorism Act at Holyhead on Monday after arriving from Dublin.

The incident is being examined by the Department of Foreign Affairs, after both men made statements to officials there and to the Irish Ambassador.

The singer said he would not have minded if it had been a security check. But, he said, their van was not searched and the instrument cases or the equipment in the vehicle were not checked while he and his driver were held separately in two interrogation rooms.

“I found the whole experience threatening. I was questioned about the contents of my briefcase. I was questioned about lyrics of songs and I was asked a lot of personal questions about members of my family and my children and about my home,” he said.

“At no time was I given any explanation as to why I was being held and interrogated in this manner,” the Kildare native said in a statement.

He said he had hoped to deal with the matter out of the public domain but felt he needed to offer his side of the story when his detention was reported in a newspaper yesterday.

“I found the whole affair quite frightening. But the feeling I am left with a few days later is one of sadness as I thought this kind of behaviour towards Irish people travelling to the UK was a thing of the past,” said Mr Moore.

It was reported that the singer had no photo identification with him when he arrived at the Welsh port but this could not be confirmed. It is also unclear whether the pair were quizzed by police or by immigration officials.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was made aware of the incident a few hours after the singer and his driver were cleared to continue their journey. A spokesperson said Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern has been briefed on the situation and officials are in contact with Mr Moore.

Irish and British citizens do not require a passport to travel between both countries. However, a Department of Justice spokesperson said immigration officials may seek formal identification to verify that a person without a passport is from Ireland or Britain as they claim.

Moore has a close affinity with his British fans, many of whom associate strongly with some of his songs about emigration. He played his first professional gig at a Manchester folk club in May 1967, days before his 22nd birthday.

Mr Moore was not available to be interviewed or photographed yesterday. He is playing two sold-out shows in Liverpool with Donal Lunny and Declan Sinnott tonight and tomorrow night, having played in Bristol on Tuesday and Wednesday.

His brother Andrew Moore did not want to be drawn on the situation but stressed that Christy had not sought any media coverage and would prefer to go down formal channels.