Gardaí arrest 10 during peace protests

Ten peace activists were arrested for public order offences during an anti-war demonstration today.

A group of protesters charged at Shannon airport’s perimeter fence in Co Clare but were stopped by officers patrolling the boundary.

They were taking part in what was otherwise a peaceful march attended by up to 1,000 demonstrators.

Some 500 gardaí were drafted in to patrol the airport after a group of peace protesters threatened to pull down the fence.

Many officers were armed and wore riot gear amid fears of violence during the march. Other officers were on horse-back and a Garda helicopter constantly flew over the area.

“It was mainly a peaceful demonstration although there were a number of arrests,” said Sergeant Seamus Ruane, head of the security operation.

“A number of people tried to pull down the fence and they charged at members of the force who were protecting it.

“But there was no breach of security. Ten people were arrested during the afternoon and they were taken to various Garda stations in the area.”

Security was heightened at Shannon after a group called Grassroots Network Against War posted a message on its website calling for a “mass non-violent civil disobedience“.

Several groups and political parties pulled out in the light of the threat of disruption, but gardaí said between 700 and 1,000 people came out to protest.

They were split into two sections, one led by the organisers the Irish Anti-War Movement, and another including the Grassroots Network.

A separate anti-war protest took place in Dublin, where groups boycotting the Shannon march held a candlelit vigil outside the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Recently a number of activists protesting at the use of Shannon by US planes refuelling on their way to the Gulf were charged with vandalising an aircraft.

The Government brought in the Army to patrol the airport after the incident.

Meanwhile Justice Minister Michael McDowell criticised the content of a website set up by peace activists.