Aircraft attack cost €500,000, court told

COURT REPORT: A district court heard yesterday that the estimated cost of the damage allegedly carried out by five anti-war activists on a US navy aircraft at Shannon airport last February could be about €500,000.

Gardaí have already stated in court that the estimated cost of damage associated with a separate attack allegedly by anti-war activist Ms Mary Kelly (50) on the same aircraft five days earlier is the same figure of €500,000. In the case being taken against the five arising from the alleged criminal damage, the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the case be summarily disposed of in the district court.

However, after hearing of the anticipated cost of the damage to the plane by the five at Ennis District Court yesterday, Judge Joseph Mangan declined jurisdiction and the case will now be heard before a judge and jury.

Insp Tom Kennedy told the court that the early indications were that the figure was in the region of €500,000 but there was now some dispute over that.

The five, Mr Ciaran O'Reilly (42), Mr Damien Moran (22), Ms Nuin Dunlop (31), Ms Deirdre Clancy (32) and Ms Karen Fallon (30), are all charged with the criminal damage on February 3rd contrary to Section Two of the Criminal Damage Act.

Yesterday, the five - who are all members of the Catholic Worker movement - faced an additional charge of criminal damage to the two glass panel doors of the hangar in which the plane was parked on February 3rd.

Four of the five were remanded on continuing bail to reappear before Ennis District Court on May 2nd where a book of evidence will be produced for the trial in the Circuit Court.

The fifth, Ms Fallon, who has opted to remain in jail with consent to bail, was remanded to reappear before the court on April 4th.

Ms Kelly, of the former Peace Camp at Shannon, who is charged with causing €500,000 damage to the same aircraft on January 29th, also appeared at Ennis District Court yesterday.

Judge Mangan said that he would make no ruling on jurisdiction and further remanded her on continuing bail to reappear before Ennis District Court on April 4th next.