Protestors to oppose US military landings at Shannon

Hundreds of people are set to take part in a demonstration at Shannon Airport today to highlight the continuing US military stopovers there.

Protesters are calling for the Government to change its policy on allowing the US Army to use the airfield.

The protest at the airport is being supported by the Green Party who called on Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern to end Ireland’s compliance with what it described as the illegal occupation in Iraq.

“Not only is the invasion and occupation of Iraq illegal but Shannon continues to be used as a tool of terror and torture as detainees are spirited away via Shannon to hell holes like Guantanamo Bay where the writ of the United Nations does not run,” Green Party chairman John Gormley said.

“Surely it is time for Ireland to now reconsider its assistance to the American war machine in light of this tragedy.

“We alone of the so-called neutral states are giving our airports and airspace to the US military.

“In aiding and abetting the Americans in this way we will be seen as a ‘legitimate’ target for Islamic terrorist organisations,” the Dublin South East TD warned.