Anti-war protest held on Women's Day

Anti-Iraq war campaigners staged demonstrations at 15 separate locations in Ireland today to coincide with International Women’s Day.

Two of the protests went ahead in Dublin – outside the city centre headquarters of the Irish parliament, and close to the city’s American embassy.

Another event was orchestrated beside Shannon Airport, where anti-war activists successfully breached perimeter fencing twice earlier this year to cause damage to an American military aircraft.

A total of six demonstrators, protesting at the use of Shannon by the United States during the build up towards a possible war in Iraq, have faced courtroom charges as a result of those incidents, which have led to an intensification of security measures at the airport by the Irish police and army.

Today’s events were backed by Labour Party MEP and former minister Proinsias de Rossa.

Addressing the US embassy anti-war rally, he called on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to speak out against the war.

He said the Government should not “sit on the fence” any longer, but use whatever influence they had to stop the war.

Mr De Rossa added the claims: “The proposed American and British bombing of Iraq will result in a slaughter of civilians not seen since the First World War. To devastate the cities of Iraq will be a war crime.

“It is not acceptable and the Government have to make it clear they will not approve that kind of approach to international relations.”

Other demonstrations went ahead today in Cork, Waterford, Galway and Sligo, as well as Mullingar, in Co Westmeath, Dundalk, Co Louth, Dingle, Co Kerry, Tullamore, Co Offaly, Westport, Co Mayo, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, Maynooth, Co Kildare, and Clones, Co Monaghan.