Court refuses to lift ban on peace activist entering Clare

The woman alleged to have caused €500,000 in damage to a US navy aircraft yesterday failed in her attempt to have the ban on her entering Co Clare lifted.

Peace campaigner Ms Mary Kelly (50) yesterday appeared at Tulla District Court, where her solicitor, Mr Joe Noonan, made an application to have her bail conditions eased.

At her first appearance in court last week relating to the alleged offence of causing criminal damage to the 737 US navy aircraft on January 29th, Ms Kelly was ordered to leave Co Clare forthwith, surrender her passport and sign on at Skibbereen Garda station three times a week.

Ms Kelly, formerly of the Peace Camp in Shannon, was also required to enter a personal surety of €5,000. She refused the bail terms, and spent five nights in Limerick Prison before signing the bail bond on Monday allowing for her release.

Yesterday, accompanied by a fellow peace activist to Tulla District Court in east Clare, Ms Kelly, through her solicitor, sought to have her bail conditions modified.

During the four-minute hearing, Mr Noonan asked Judge Joseph Mangan to have the bail conditions modified to allow Ms Kelly enter Co Clare, and to limit the exclusion zone to a five-kilometre area around Shannon Airport.

Mr Noonan described the ban on Ms Kelly entering Co Clare as a large imposition on his client.

Judge Mangan refused Mr Noonan's request to modify the terms of the bail conditions, and Ms Kelly was remanded on bail to reappear before Ennis District Court on March 7th.

Dana to attend prayer breakfast

Connacht-Ulster MEP Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon is due to attend a "Washington prayer breakfast meeting" today. She is part of a delegation of international political representatives visiting the US capital.

The breakfast will be addressed by President Bush. Speaking from Washington, Ms Scallon said: "This is a unique opportunity to continue the process of networking with members of the US administration and fellow politicians from around the world."