garda/Brennan lie about Shannon incident

by Graham Caswell Mon Feb 03, 2003 17:58

If the Garda was indeed 'overpowered' then the activists should be charged with assault or another appropriate charge and the matter should be dealt with in court.

But if the Garda wasn't 'overpowered' then the Garda press office should be publically exposed, not for spinning, but for lying, and there should be discussion about why this dissinformation/lie was repeated so widely.

Perhaps the best way of doing this would be for the Catholic Worker activists to go after the Garda press office, RTE, the Irish Times and other publishers for damages.

Either way, this should be dealt with in court.

by Brian J Goggin Mon Feb 03, 2003 18:02

The Official Garda Spokesperson, interviewed on the wireless at lunchtime, said that "A Garda was in hospital" as a result of the incident. It was no doubt entirely unintentional that his choice of words might have given the impression, without actually saying so, that the Garda was injured or was being treated for something or other.

bjg

by Scared of the rozzers Mon Feb 03, 2003 18:39

All this does not predict a happy outcome for the 15th. Are we going to get more baton charges and pepper spray happy thugs? The last thing we need is a stand off between the police and any protesters, of any shade come the 15th.

by Terry Mon Feb 03, 2003 18:44

Conor Cregan was speaking with Ciaron O'Reilly in Shannon Garda Station at around 10.30 today

Ciaron confirmed to Conor that thy had indeed met met a Guard who, rather than being overpowered, had had a kind of
stress/panic reaction to their presence and had become upset....

Full report at:
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=26658&start=20

by skippy Mon Feb 03, 2003 18:50

The worst thing to occur as a result of this commendable action is the condemnations and backstabbing from the Greens and the NGO peace alliance.

Everyones protest is legitimate and some quite frankly more effective than others.

I'll be in Dublin on Feb 15th but I know that only direct action at Shannon will get results. I will not however denounce the liberals for not being willing to do DA

by ronald - Mcdonalds Mon Feb 03, 2003 19:40

Since when is a 737 a murder machine - where are the weapons located on it - is it meant to land on iraqi's or something and hit them on the head.

Fair dues to getting the copper guys but leave the planes alone.

Ps: Free burgers at Shannon Mcdonalds for anyone that washes thier hair or hand in a Axe.

by Adam Mon Feb 03, 2003 20:08

I was listening to the reports on Radio 1 this morning/lunchtime. Unfortunately I don't have this on tape (I've got this afternoons stuff though) but my memory from the 1 O'Clock news is that the Garda information officer said the gard was "confronted" but "managed to raise the alarm" and that he was unhurt and that it was Brennan who claimed that a Gard had been hospitalised. I don't suppose anyone has the tape lying around do they?

by billy bragg Mon Feb 03, 2003 20:20

to ronald mcdonald:
the plane carries soldiers......those people who are paid to murder and destroy.....quite simple really

by garry - global action ucd Mon Feb 03, 2003 22:46

Blatant guilt tripping from Bertie, even if it was true, would we forgoe our morals everytime we might lose US money?

----------

Asked about the incident this morning, the Taoiseach Mr Ahern said security breaches at Shannon threatened refueling contracts which contribute significantly to the airport's revenue.

"Refueling is 40 per cent of the business of Shannon, it is the economy of Shannon. And that is not just American alone, that's the whole business. And there is a real danger we could lose that and that would be devastating for Shannon all because a group of people want to engage a malicious attack," he said.

---------

oh but bertie, what about this from the dail on
Tuesday, 26 November 2002

84. Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Transport the number of commercial or private flights and military flights that passed through Irish airspace during 2001 and 2002 to date; the total revenue raised by the Irish Aviation Authority in respect of fees charged to private or commercial flights; the reason no fees are charged in respect of military aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23464/02]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan): The Irish Aviation Authority provides air traffic control and communications services to aircraft which pass through Irish controlled airspace - en route - and aircraft landing and taking off from Irish airports - terminal. The Irish Aviation Authority controls some 100,000 sq. m., of international airspace in addition to domestic airspace.

According to the Irish Aviation Authority, a total of 465,204 en route civil and 6,895 en route military aircraft flights flew through total Irish-controlled airspace in 2001. The figures for 2002 to end September were 339,707 civil flights and 6,881 military flights. A much smaller proportion of military en route flights fly through domestic airspace with the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, while a smaller proportion again land at Irish airports. The total revenue raised by the IAA in respect of en route, terminal and communications charges to civil flights in total Irish-controlled airspace was €77.3 million in 2001 and €60.9 million to end-September 2002.

http://www.gov.ie/debates-02/26Nov/Sect5.htm

Eamonn - could you get a copy of that radio show up here?