Christian activists acquitted after disabling US warplane

Christian activists acquitted after disabling US warplane

-27/07/06

Additional reporting by Keith Hebden

Five Christian peace activists have been declared not guilty of criminal damage after they disabled a US warplane on its way to Iraq.

The jury of five men and seven women took four and a half hours to reach its unanimous decision.

It was the third attempt at trying the five who pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval plane, property of the United States government and to glass door panels, property of Aer Rianta at Shannon Airport, Clare on February 3, 2003.

Juries in two earlier trials were discharged before evidence had concluded following suggestions from the defence teams that the presiding judges were, or could have been perceived to have been, biased.

The accused at all stages accepted that they had gone into a Shannon Airport hangar with hammers and damaged the aircraft. They argued that they had a lawful excuse for doing so as they believed they were acting to protect lives and property in Iraq.

Arriving at the airport under the cover of night, the Christians from the Catholic Worker tradition entered an aircraft hanger and woke a guard to give him the opportunity to assist them in their act. The guard declined, but they entered nevertheless and strategically worked in just a few minutes to disable the plane and have a moment of prayer before being arrested.

Copies of the Bible and Koran, Rosary and Islamic prayer beads, candles, flowers, St Bridgetís crosses and photographs of distressed children were among the items found at the scene in the form of a shrine at the doors to the hangar.

Ireland is said to be a neutral country. It is not a member of NATO, nor was its inclusion in the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ ever admitted either by US or Irish government officials.

However, its facilities have played a considerable and growing role in the US war and occupation.

ìThe jury is the conscience of the community,î they said in a joint statement, ìThe decision of the jury should be a message to London, Washington DC, and the Dail.î

One member of the jury was heard to say, ìEvery once in a while you get the opportunity to do something rightî.

Speaking at the Greenbelt festival in August 2005 Ciaron OíReilly, one of the Pit Stop Ploughshares noted that if just five per cent of the people who marched in London against the war on Iraq took similar actions and the other 95% offered support to their families should their be any prison sentence it could make all the differences to the situation Iraq now faces.

Speaking after the acquittal Ciaron claimed that the verdict should send a strong message to the western governments sanctioning occupation of Iraq: ìIreland wants no part in waging war on the people of Iraq. Refuelling of US warplanes at Shannon Airport should cease immediately.î

The Pit Stop Ploughshares follow the twenty year tradition of the Trident Ploughshares movement inspired by the biblical idea of ìbeating swords into ploughshares.î The act of damaging the war plane was viewed by them as a prophetic act of looking forward to a peaceful and just ëKingdom of Godí in which all weapons have been relinquished.

Christian activists acquitted after disabling US warplane

-27/07/06

Additional reporting by Keith Hebden

Five Christian peace activists have been declared not guilty of criminal damage after they disabled a US warplane on its way to Iraq.

The jury of five men and seven women took four and a half hours to reach its unanimous decision.

It was the third attempt at trying the five who pleaded not guilty to two counts each of causing damage without lawful excuse to a naval plane, property of the United States government and to glass door panels, property of Aer Rianta at Shannon Airport, Clare on February 3, 2003.

Juries in two earlier trials were discharged before evidence had concluded following suggestions from the defence teams that the presiding judges were, or could have been perceived to have been, biased.

The accused at all stages accepted that they had gone into a Shannon Airport hangar with hammers and damaged the aircraft. They argued that they had a lawful excuse for doing so as they believed they were acting to protect lives and property in Iraq.

Arriving at the airport under the cover of night, the Christians from the Catholic Worker tradition entered an aircraft hanger and woke a guard to give him the opportunity to assist them in their act. The guard declined, but they entered nevertheless and strategically worked in just a few minutes to disable the plane and have a moment of prayer before being arrested.

Copies of the Bible and Koran, Rosary and Islamic prayer beads, candles, flowers, St Bridgetís crosses and photographs of distressed children were among the items found at the scene in the form of a shrine at the doors to the hangar.

Ireland is said to be a neutral country. It is not a member of NATO, nor was its inclusion in the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ ever admitted either by US or Irish government officials.

However, its facilities have played a considerable and growing role in the US war and occupation.

ìThe jury is the conscience of the community,î they said in a joint statement, ìThe decision of the jury should be a message to London, Washington DC, and the Dail.î

One member of the jury was heard to say, ìEvery once in a while you get the opportunity to do something rightî.

Speaking at the Greenbelt festival in August 2005 Ciaron OíReilly, one of the Pit Stop Ploughshares noted that if just five per cent of the people who marched in London against the war on Iraq took similar actions and the other 95% offered support to their families should their be any prison sentence it could make all the differences to the situation Iraq now faces.

Speaking after the acquittal Ciaron claimed that the verdict should send a strong message to the western governments sanctioning occupation of Iraq: ìIreland wants no part in waging war on the people of Iraq. Refuelling of US warplanes at Shannon Airport should cease immediately.î

The Pit Stop Ploughshares follow the twenty year tradition of the Trident Ploughshares movement inspired by the biblical idea of ìbeating swords into ploughshares.î The act of damaging the war plane was viewed by them as a prophetic act of looking forward to a peaceful and just ëKingdom of Godí in which all weapons have been relinquished.