THE ACTIONS of dozens of US troops, who “gate-crashed” a wedding in Co Clare last week, have been criticised by a leading anti-war campaigner who has described the matter as another clear breach of Irish neutrality.
The incident occurred at the Clare Inn Hotel near Newmarket on Fergus last Wednesday where almost 300 troops stayed for two nights after the aircraft on which they were travelling to Iraq was grounded at Shannon airport by technical problems.
One wedding guest said: “The soldiers were around the hotel all day. We saw them walking around the grounds, chatting in groups outside and in the bar, but we were surprised when they came in to the wedding that night.
“Another soldier, presumably a senior officer, tried to get them out of the hall telling them that it was a private function but they were allowed stay. The groom approached the officer and told him it was okay,” the guest continued.
“It didn’t bother me all that much, to be honest, but some people were very put out by it all. You could see that some guests were very uncomfortable with the soldiers being there, especially wearing their uniforms, but in fairness, they were in great form and seemed to enjoy themselves.”
Retired Army officer and international secretary of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance Dr Edward Horgan has described the actions of US troops as highly inappropriate.
“Again we see how the Irish and US governments blatantly breach Irish neutrality,” Dr Horgan said. “Ireland continues to participate in a foreign war and it is highly inappropriate that US soldiers would appear in an Irish hotel or at Shannon airport in uniform.”