Mick Wallace considering another Shannon security breach

Just an hour after being granted temporary release from Limerick Prison, Mick Wallace said he would attempt to breech security at Shannon Airport again to search US military planes landing there.

Despite being jailed for 30 days for failing to pay a €2,000 fine following a conviction for scaling the fence at Shannon in 2014, the Wexford TD was given temporary release just two hours after being driven from Dublin to Limerick.

Mr Wallace had presented himself to Clontarf Garda Station where he was told he was being arrested. After being allowed to collect items such as clothing and books from his home which is close to the station, he was then driven by car with two gardaí to Limerick Prison and processed.

Prison sources said Mr Wallace was brought into the prison lobby for two hours and released at 4pm. At no stage was the TD — given prison number 101382 — put in a cell, handcuffed or fingerprinted.

Asked if it was a waste of garda and prison resources and time, the TD said: “It was a bit mad bringing me down to Limerick and keeping me there for two hours.”

Mick Wallace, on his way into prison. Picture: Press 22

Speaking outside the jail, Mr Wallace confirmed he would “do it again”.

“Oh we will yeah, of course. Don’t worry we’ll get in there again. It’s an absolute disgrace that the planes are not being searched.

“We’ll keep at this until the Government cops onto themselves, and stops allowing Shannon Airport been used as a US military airbase to kill innocent people.

“We’ve nothing planned at the moment, but we have every intention of continuing with our campaign until the Irish Government does the responsible thing and stops Shannon being used as a US military airbase.”

Prison sources said Mr Wallace was not given special treatment and was released like others remanded for not paying fines. Up to 189 others jailed for not paying fines were granted temporary release in recent days, sources said. Almost 9,000 people are committed to jail annually for non-payment of fines.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar said the Wexford TD’s arrest showed there could be concerns about Independent TDs forming part of the next government. “There’s a responsibility on people who make the law to obey the law,” he said. “I imagine they will argue that they have done this as part of a protest. That’s a decision for them.

“What does occur to me though is instability and risks that might arise from having a government that is dependent on independents for support.

“Because you might come to an agreement with a number of independents to form a government but then you may find that those independents are in jail because of a protest or something. Then the government falls.”