Released man vows further Shannon protests

AN anti-war protester jailed for refusing to pay a trespass fine has vowed to do the same again to highlight Shannon Airport’s use as a stopover for US military aircraft.

Dr Fintan Lane was released from Limerick Prison yesterday morning after serving 45 days of a two-month sentence. The term was imposed because he did not pay a 750 court fine for trespassing at Shannon in October 2002.

“I don’t know why they released me as people who are jailed for fines are not normally given remissions,” he said.

“The first few days in prison were tough but I got a job in the kitchen and I passed the time okay. It’s ironic that it cost the State around €10,000 to keep me in jail because I didn’t pay a €750 fine,” said the 36-year-old Corkman.

He was looking forward to a good night’s sleep but also getting back to campaigning against the use of Shannon Airport by the US military.

As national spokesman for the Irish Anti-War Movement and chairman of Cork Anti- War Campaign, Dr Lane said he will help organise more protests at Shannon this year, despite being banned by a judge from Co Clare for two years.

“A prison term isn’t going to intimidate me out of the anti- war movement. I believe what is happening at Shannon is helping to kill people in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has been integrated into the US war machine and it’s effectively an American airbase on Irish soil,” he said.

“I wouldn’t like to see George Bush visit Ireland, but Fianna Fáil and the PDs have already made a joke of Irish neutrality.

“But it’s not an anti- US campaign,” he said.

While Dr Lane acknowledges that anti-war protests have dwindled in recent months, he said tens of thousands would come out on the streets if Mr Bush does visit, as is being considered during Ireland’s presidency of the EU.

Meanwhile, a circuit court judge has given anti-war activist Mary Kelly back her passport to allow her travel to India this weekend to address a world social forum.

The 50-year-old Corkwoman remains on bail and will be tried for a second time next month at Ennis Circuit Court for allegedly causing €1.5 million worth of damage to a US Navy aircraft at Shannon Airport last January.

A jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict in the case last July. Ms Kelly denies a charge of causing criminal damage to the aircraft.

However, trial judge Carroll Moran has returned Ms Kelly her passport following an application from the accused to allow her travel to India this weekend to address a world social forum at Mumbai.

“I am greatly honoured to represent Ireland at that forum. It makes a nice change from being the accused, which is what the Irish State has made me,” she said.