Greens under fire over stance on attacks

THE Green Party was under fire yesterday for failing to condemn the attacks on aircraft at Shannon Airport.

The Government criticised party leader Trevor Sargent for his stance on the attacks at the airport.

Rowing back on his party's tacit support of the first attack on the plane last week, the party leader described the second incident at Shannon as regrettable.

The peace campaign needed to remain focused on the build-up to war in Iraq, rather than being distracted from the main issues, he said.

Yet Deputy Sargent also said he was in favour of the army being deployed at Shannon as the airport could be a terrorist target.

But Deputy Government Chief Whip Billy Kelleher accused Mr Sargent of playing word games over the Shannon airport vandalism attacks and said it was time for the Green Party leader to condemn the attacks.

The failure to condemn the initial attacks was seen as an encouragement for further incidents to take place, he said.

"Deputy Sargent has conveniently ignored that following yesterday's incident gardaí recovered lump hammers and an axe hardly what you'd expect to find at a peace demonstration," Mr Kelleher said.

"While the Greens have been playing word games, describing the incident as regrettable and a distraction, the main opposition parties have no problem in echoing Government condemnation of the attacks," he said.

Last night, Mr Sargent's spokesman said the party leader had neither condemned nor condoned the attack as he was awaiting the outcome of the court case arising from criminal charges being brought against the five protestors.

Although Mr Sargent was in favour of the upgrading of security at Shannon, the party does have reservations about the army's deployment.

"The Green Party are extremely worried that a civilian airport is being turned into a military complex," the spokesperson said.

Defence Minister Michael Smith said the Green Party, the Socialist Party and Sinn Féin should take the opportunity to condemn what he described as the reckless vandalism at Shannon.

"They shouldn't be supported by any democratic organisation," he said.