Anti-war group vows to pull down fence

THE anti-war group which failed in its efforts to pull down the perimeter fence at Shannon Airport has pledged to return to complete the exercise.

The Grassroots Network Against War publicised its plans to dismantle the fence on a website last week.

However, the group which advocates "direct action" was easily outnumbered by gardaí who staged a massive security operation at the airport.

Up to 450 gardaí many of them in riot gear formed a ring of steel around the airport to thwart any attempt to breach the perimeter fence.

Fifty protesters linked arms to form a human chain in front of the fence but were kept well back.

Ten people were arrested and charged with minor public order offences the seven men and three women were remanded on bail to appear before Ennis District Court on Friday.

A spokesman for the Grassroots Network Against War denied that the protest had been a failure despite the fact that they were unable to pull down the fence.

"We're going to come back with a lot more people. I think we succeeded in showing that we can organise a peaceful protest despite all the media hype.

"In two weeks' time we will come back with greater numbers and pull the fence down," said spokesman Andrew Flood.

Meanwhile, a separate peaceful protest organised by the Irish Anti-War Movement was allowed to continue its march to the airport terminal building.

Four-hundred protesters turned out for this demonstration despite the withdrawal of support from The Labour Party, the Green Party and Sinn Féin.

This group led by Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins and Richard Boyd-Barrett of the Irish Anti-War Movement marched to the airport terminal building, where they gathered for an anti-war rally.

Deputy Higgins accused the Government of creating a police and army state following Saturday's major security presence.

He also criticised the Labour Party, the Greens and Sinn Féin following their withdrawal of support for the protest.