Ahern defends policy on inspecting US flights

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday defended the Government’s policy of not inspecting certain US flights transiting through Shannon Airport.

In a categorical dismissal of criticisms made by the Irish Human Rights Commission over extraordinary rendition flights, Mr Ahern told the Dáil the Government was being asked to do acts that no other government in Europe was doing.

The Taoiseach said there was not a “scintilla of evidence” to support the contention prisoners snatched by the US authorities or the CIA under extraordinary rendition had passed through Shannon.