Minister rules out US aircraft checks

Random checks of US military aircraft landing at Shannon airport would only have a cosmetic effect, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Noel Treacy insisted in the Dáil, in the wake of the incident involving a handcuffed marine being transported through the Co Clare airport.

He rejected Green Party claims that the Government had committed itself to conduct aircraft inspections. "A policy of spot checks could only have a cosmetic effect," he said.

Mr Treacy also insisted that it was not a cleaner at the airport who made the discovery of the handcuffed marine, but an airport official when a US officer asked if the marine could be allowed off the aircraft for exercise.

Green Party spokesman John Gormley said the incident confirmed "the Government does not have a clue what is going on in Shannon airport but must wait for a cleaner to board an aircraft. The US embassy was the agency contacted. The Government is completely out of the loop."

The Minister insisted that a cleaner did not uncover the situation. "A soldier was being transferred on the aircraft and was detained on board at Shannon. The officer in charge asked permission of the official on duty in Shannon if the soldier could be taken off the aircraft for exercise." This was reported to authorities in Dublin and to the US embassy, which contacted the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Justice, the Minister said. The Government was satisfied that it was an administrative error and a final report is expected from the US embassy.

Mr Gormley said Mr Ahern had told a British newspaper that aircraft checks would be carried out. Mr Treacy said that if there was anything to be covered up "or if something was wrong, do you think the officer in charge of the soldier in question would have asked for permission to take him off the airplane". When Mr Gormley said US soldiers "walk around in uniform all over the place", Mr Treacy replied: "What is wrong with that? Do you want them to walk around naked?"