Ahern: 'Ireland could take in Guantanamo prisoners'

Ireland may take in prisoners from Guantanamo Bay if it gets EU backing for the move, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said today.

New US president Barack Obama, who has previously called for the Cuban detention camp to be shut down, today ordered military trials to be stopped.

Mr Ahern said the Government may be willing to resettle some of the remaining 245 detainees in Guantanamo in Ireland.

As Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2005, the TD was the first EU minister to call for the closure of the prison and also lobbied then US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the issue.

The Government turned down informal requests in the past to resettle detainees because it was opposed to the Guantanamo facility.

“However, the priority which President Obama is giving to closing Guantanamo is very welcome and creates a new context in which this matter can be addressed,” said Mr Ahern.

“I believe that there should be a united and positive response at EU level to any request made by the new US administration for help in bringing about the closure of Guantanamo.”

EU Foreign Ministers may discuss the matter at a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on Monday.

“While all countries will have to have regard to difficult security issues which arise, Ireland would, of course, be prepared to play its full part in any common action being taken by the EU in responding to a US request for assistance in achieving the objective of closing down Guantanamo,” added Mr Ahern.

Amnesty International Ireland said 50 prisoners have been cleared for release from Guantanamo but they cannot be returned to their home countries because they are at risk of torture or death.

The human rights body has been persistently lobbying the Irish Government to help shut down the facility.

“Ireland can be part of the solution to Guantanamo. Ireland must help President Obama to close Guantanamo,” said executive director Colm O’Gorman.

He added: “We hope Mr Ahern’s comments today are evidence that Ireland is prepared to work with our EU partners to play our part in shutting down Guantanamo for good.”

Anti-war activists have claimed that aircraft carrying prisoners en route to Guantanamo have stopped over in Shannon Airport.