The trial of five anti-war protesters accused of the criminal damage of an United States Navy aircraft at Shannon airport nearly three-and-a-half-years ago has begun at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The five accused are Ciaron O'Reilly (46), an Australian national, and Damien Moran (25), both of Rialto Cottages, Rialto; Nuin Dunlop (34), a US citizen also living at Rialto Cottages, Rialto; Karen Fallon (35), a Scottish marine biologist at the same address; and Deirdre Clancy (36), a copy editor of Alverno apartments, Clontarf.
They have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval plane, property of the US government and to glass door panels, property of Aer Rianta at Shannon airport, Co Clare, on February 3rd, 2003.
In opening the case to the jury Mr Conor Devally SC (with Mr Luan Ó Braonain), prosecuting, said the incident occurred during a time in which there appeared to be a build-up of military personnel in the Middle East and Shannon airport was being used by the US military.
Mr Devally said the US aircraft was in a hangar owned by Aer Rianta and that a garda was on duty keeping watch. The garda was patrolling the hangar at around 2.45am when he heard a loud bang, as though glass was breaking, and then saw five people enter carrying hammers.
They proceeded to use the hammers on the plane as the garda pleaded with them to stop. Some time later they put down their weapons. Mr Devally said the accused admit they carried out certain acts on the aircraft but will argue that they had a lawful excuse.
Det Garda John Duffy told Mr Devally that he took photographs of the scene following the incident and found hammers, wire- cutters, a mallet and items which made up part of a shrine. He agreed that slogans such as "the war ends here", "put a stop to war", "death port" and "pit stop for death" were engraved in the handles of the hammers.
James Nicholls, a former US navy aircraft commander, had the task of repairing the plane to a standard where it could be flown home.
He accepted a suggestion from Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha, defending Mr Moran and Mr O'Reilly, that the C70 or 737 plane was going to Naval Air Station Sigonella, a US navy installation at an Italian air force base in Sicily, Italy. He agreed that the plane was capable of functioning for a substantial period of time carrying spare parts and mechanics to ensure "equipment in the US military arsenal would be kept operational".
Asked by Mr Ó Lideadha if it was reasonable to deduce that the plane was to be used in the build- up against Iraq, Mr Nicholls said he was not privy to any information regarding the plane's purpose. He agreed that the route sometimes used to convey US military personnel from the US to the Gulf was via Shannon. The hearing continues.