Taoiseach refuses to launch CIA flights probe

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern held firm on the Government’s refusal to hold an independent investigation into CIA-operated flights landing in Ireland and suspected of being involved in illegal rendition.

However, he conceded that an inter-departmental investigation showed that three CIA planes could have been used to carry prisoners before or after landing at Shannon. He insisted none were carrying prisoners when they landed in the country.

The Taoiseach addressed the European Parliament in Brussels yesterday on the future of Europe, when Irish was officially translated for the first time in the EU institutions.