Greens Warn Fianna Fail and PDs on Mary Kelly Case

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday January 31, 2003 13:59 by Graham Caswell - Green Party caswell at indigo dot ie

Don't pre-judge, says Sargent

The government is prejudging Mary Kelly's case and is enforcing law selectivly. And there should be an independent assessment of damages to the US Navy aircraft.

Green Party leader, Trevor Sargent, T.D. has warned the Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fail to stop prejudging the Mary Kelly case, which is before the courts.

"This is not the first case internationally where a military plane was damaged. Indeed, property can sometimes be damaged lawfully under Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991, if for example the reason is to save innocent life. A fireman breaking down the door of a burning building invokes this law. If the PD's and Fianna Fail are genuinely interested in compliance with the law, I urge them to insist on inspection of all military planes refuelling in Shannon."

The Green Party leader went on to accuse the Government parties of robbing the taxpayer to cover their embarrassment about the lax security at Shannon Airport. "A responsible sovereign Government would not allow refuelling at Shannon in the first place, it would get an independent assessment of damages to the US Navy aircraft, a full inspection of the cargo and a requirement that the cost be covered in the normal way, thus saving the Irish taxpayer from this needless and
exaggerated expense," concluded Deputy Sargent.