Press Release of the 'Good Friday' Catholic Workers

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday June 13, 2003 19:12 by Jenny Hannon, Martin McGowan - Catholic Worker GF_CatholicWorker at fastmail dot fm @ Spokesperson, 085-739.52.88

at Shannon district court, 12 June 2003

Outline of the current state of play in the case of the 'Good Friday' Catholic Workers (Spud-planting Division) versus The Ahernite Theory of Economics

On the 16 May 2003 our solicitor John Devane issued at our request a summons to ministers Ahern and Smith to give evidence in this court today on the use of Shannon airport by foreign military forces.

The "special branch" Gardai in Ahern's company attempted to prevent Devane from serving the summons on him in person at Dromoland Castle, Co. Clare, on the 23 May 2003. The solicitor sustained bruising to his arms as a result of this assault and has made a formal complaint against the officers involved. This physical restraint was not only unnecessary but illegal. Despite all attempts by the Gardai to shield the Taoiseach from the law, the summons was successfully served.

Subsequent to this questionable Garda action, Devane received a letter from the DPP, making an empty offer to drop some trumped-up charge against us and adding a question as to whether or not the two potential witnesses were now off the hook, and not required to appear in court. We see this politically motivated trade-off as an attempt to spare both ministers the ordeal of actually being truthful before the Irish public.

At a district court appearance in Ennis on Friday 6th June our solicitor informed the court that this constituted "A carrot being waved in the defendant's faces" and went on to inform the court that this was the worst letter he had ever seen, referring to it in court as "a bribe".

Judge Joseph Mangan ruled, however, that neither minister would have to take the stand to give evidence, on the grounds that their testimony would be irrelevant, since the ministers were not personally present at the airport on the date in question. By a remarkable coincidence the Prosecution dropped the aforementioned charge but continues to attempt to criminalise people like ourselves for drawing attention to the illegal activities of the present Government.

The Defendants will be appearing to answer a charge of Trespass at Tulla district court on 26 June 2003, and are calling on all members of the public who also find these developments intolerable, to show support by their presence or a letter addressed to the attention of the court, c/o Shannon Peace House, 19 Inis Ealga, Shannon, Co. Clare.