Freed Irish activists say they feared for their lives in Israeli custody

THERE were smiles and tears for two freed Irish peace activists who arrived back on Irish shores yesterday after being imprisoned and beaten by Israeli commandos who stormed their aid ship.

One bruised activist claimed the Israelis threatened to kill him while another described how he came within an inch of being shot dead by raiding commandos.

Relieved mother Eleanor Lamb embraced her son Fiachra O Luain as he walked through arrivals at Dublin airport. The 28-year-old claimed he was “brutalised” while in Israeli custody.