Release Fintan Lane: What You Can Do To Support The Campaign

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Sunday November 30, 2003 15:56 by Dominic Carroll - Cork Anti-War Campaign / Clonakilty Against the War 087 1258325

Anti-war activist jailed for 60 days for Shannon Airport protest
Fintan Lane began a 60-day prison sentence on Wednesday 26th November for his refusal to pay a €750 fine for protesting at Shannon Airport.
What You Can Do To Support Fintan Lane

• Flypost the "Release Fintan Lane" poster available for download at http://www.irishantiwar.org (posters will also be available for collection at the Shannon Blockade on Saturday 6th December).
• Organise a statement of support/call for release from trade union branches, from branches of political organisations in your area, from councillors, from student unions, from campaigning groups, from anti-war groups, or from any other group/organisation/individual you think might add their voice to the call for Fintan’s release. Already, the Cork Trades Council, the Irish Anti-War Movement and Joe Higgins TD have called for the release of Fintan Lane. We need to add to this list

as quickly as possible. Statements should be sent to the media (newspapers, radio, etc.) and copies sent to [email protected]
• Send a fax, e-mail and letter to government ministers/TDs calling for the release of Fintan Lane.
• Write a letter to a newspaper, local or national.
• Organise a white-line picket in the high street of your town or city.
• Join the Shannon Blockade on Saturday 6th December.
• Send messages of support and letters to Fintan Lane, Limerick Prison, Limerick. Please keep messages/letters straightforward and post in an envelope to Fintan Lane, Limerick Prison, Mulgrave Street, Limerick.


Fintan Lane
Fintan Lane is a historian and former university lecturer, who currently works as a freelance editor. He is the editor of Saothar, the academic journal of Irish labour history, and the author of The Origins of Modern Irish Socialism, 1881-1896 and In Search of Thomas Sheahan: Radical Politics in Cork, 1824-1836. He is the chairperson of the broad-based Cork Anti-War Campaign, and PRO of the Irish Anti-War Movement.

Background
A fine of €750 was imposed in April by Judge Joseph Mangan at Tulla District Court for Fintan’s part in a mass trespass at Shannon airport on 12 October 2002. Dr Lane was given three months to pay the fine, but refused to do so. The deadline for payment passed on 29 July.

Speaking shortly before his imprisonment, Fintan Lane said: “The mass trespass in which I was involved was an act of protest and resistance against the integration of an Irish civilian airport into the US war machine. What we did was an act of conscience and I have no regrets. I couldn’t pay this fine because that would be to plead guilty retrospectively and I will not do that. I feel no guilt over my actions.”

He continued: “Innocent people are being killed in Iraq and Afghanistan by the war machine that is being facilitated at Shannon airport. What is happening is an outrage, and it is no exaggeration to say that Fianna Fail and the PDs have blood on their hands.”

“I don’t want to be in jail, but as an Irish citizen I refuse to be implicated in the immoral actions of this government. It is important that people stand up and say no to the refuelling of US warplanes at Shannon.”

Concluding, Fintan Lane called on all those opposed to Irish complicity with the US occupation of Iraq to attend the demonstration at Shannon airport on December 6th: “It is important that there is a large turnout to demonstrate to Fianna Fáil and the PDs that we will not put up with the refuelling of US warplanes at Shannon.”