Pair held in connection with Shannon Airport security breach freed

A middle-aged man and a 78-year-old woman detained over a security breach at Shannon Airport have been released without charge today.

Belfast IRA woman Mairead Farrell’s brother Niall Farrell, 59, and Margaretta Darcy were arrested at their homes in Galway city and county yesterday.

They were released late last night.

It is the second time the pair have been arrested in connection with a protest last month in Shannon against US drone strikes in Pakistan.

An investigation was launched after two people carrying anti-war banners and placards breached a perimeter security fence on October 7.

A Garda spokesman said that a file on the case was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Shannon has been used as a transit route for the US war effort in Afghanistan.

The pair were detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act as part of investigations into criminal damage at the airport.

Mr Farrell’s sister was shot dead by the SAS in Gibraltar in 1988.