Unapproved landing of British military plane at Shannon Airport sparks diplomatic spat

British military chiefs are facing a dressing down over the unapproved landing of RAF aircraft at Shannon Airport.

The diplomatic spat was revealed after a Hercules transport plane landed at the airport on December 29 without seeking clearance from the Government in advance.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said: "The Government views breaches of the procedures set down for the granting of permission for such landings with the utmost seriousness.

"I have instructed my officials to discuss the matter further with the British Embassy with a view to ensuring that correct procedures are followed in future."

The British Embassy in Dublin told Irish officials that the RAF Hercules landed in Shannon to refuel.

As Ireland is a neutral country, permission should have been sought in advance and assurances given that the aircraft was unarmed, carried no cargo of arms, ammunition or explosives and that it was not on an intelligence-gathering mission or a military exercise or operation.

British diplomats told Irish officials there had been a "communication breakdown".

"The embassy has confirmed in writing that the purpose of the landing was refuelling, and that the flight was unarmed; carried no arms, ammunition or explosives; and was not engaged in intelligence-gathering nor formed part of a military exercise or operation," Mr Flanagan added.

Twenty-one other RAF flights followed the correct procedures to land in Ireland last year.

Clare Daly, who campaigns against the use of Shannon by foreign military including the US, revealed the information in a parliamentary question and called for closer scrutiny of Nato planes in Ireland.

The Independent TD from Dublin said: "It is utterly shocking that a foreign military aircraft landed without permission from the Department of Foreign Affairs on Irish soil.

"This is a total affront to our sovereignty and any notion of neutrality.

"The minister should be before the Dáil apologising and assuring us of the measures he has put in place to prevent a recurrence," she said.