Urgent action demanded by Amnesty

HUMAN rights groups yesterday demanded the Government take urgent action to deal with the use of Shannon by US aircraft.

Amnesty International called for an urgent overhaul of Ireland’s procedures for granting overflight and landing permissions to military and so-called “civilian” aircraft.

Colm Ó Cuanacháin, secretary-general of Amnesty’s Irish Section, said the Irish State might never have known about the incident had it not been for a vigilant and concerned cleaner.

“If this is the way breaches of international law and Ireland’s sovereignty are discovered, the Irish authorities simply don’t ask the necessary questions of foreign aircraft, and demand the necessary information,” he said.

He said the detainee was in military custody and was reportedly accompanied by other unarmed military personnel. He said it would then appear that the plane was a state aircraft, despite descriptions from Foreign Affairs Minister, Dermot Ahern, that it was a civilian aircraft.

“The Irish Government needs to review how aircraft registered as private aircraft, yet being used for state functions, are availing of entitlements for overflight and landing without prior authorisation or notification, bypassing restrictions placed on official or military flights.”

Amnesty welcomed the Government’s swift response and its request for a full report from the US Embassy.

Amnesty is publishing today a report detailing cases of US rendition involving seven European states.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) said the incident highlighted again the need for an effective inspection system at Shannon airport.