The trial of five anti-war protesters accused of criminally damaging a United States naval aircraft continued in legal argument at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
All of the accused pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval aircraft, property of the US government, and to glass door panels, property of Aer Rianta, at Shannon airport, Clare on February 3rd, 2003.
The five accused are Damien Moran (25) and Ciaron O'Reilly (45), both living on South Circular Road, Rialto and both working with homeless people; Nuin Dunlop (34), a US citizen and counsellor living on Walkinstown Road, Dublin; Karen Fallon (34), a Scottish marine biologist living on South Circular Road, Rialto; and Deirdre Clancy (35), a copy editor of Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin.
The jury earlier heard that Ciaron O'Reilly was "belting an axe into the front nose cone of the plane" as Damien Moran hit the side engine cover with a hammer.
The three women were at the back of the plane hitting the exhaust pipe and an image of the Texas flag with three lump hammers as well as an inflatable Tricolour hammer.