Shannon Critical Mass

Ennis Court 7/03/03

The surreal experience that is Ennis district courtroom continued apace last Friday 7th March with 3 separate cases of resistance to US military use of Shannon Warport being heard. Set in a 1970’s GAA clubhouse/drinking den, the court surroundings brought a whole new meaning to ‘being brought to the bar’ as most of us sat propped against it, reading papers.

First up were the Pit Stop Ploughshares/Catholic Worker 5, four of whom were brought direct from Limerick prison. The 5 have been charged with criminal damage yet over a month later no damage estimate has been released. Rattled by the Irish peoples overwhelming opposition to this war, the DPP, who previously indicated the case would be heard before a jury in the Circuit Court, has now opted for trial by a judge in a lower court. As of today, Damien & Deirdre join Ciaron on the outside while Nuin & Karen remain in Limerick prison (see link for contact details).
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=34580

Mary Kelly, who single-handedly managed to trash a US warplane to the tune of 500,000 euros, also appeared on a bail hearing. All 6 are up again on the 21st March along with some of the ten arrested in the fence breech at Shannon in October.

The Grassroots ten (minus one who is currently indisposed), all of whom are up on public order charges, were also remanded on bail to appear at a special sitting of Tulla district court on the 27th of March. All of the 16 remain barred from the County of Clare (any of those 70 lawyers looking at the constitutional implications of that?).

So far over 30 people are up before the courts on charges arising out of peaceful protest at Shannon. Yesterday the Bush/Bertie administration indicated the continued use of Shannon as an illegal US military air base. Like it or not more people WILL be arrested & charged. Efforts to support defendants are currently underway. If you can organise a gig, bucket a march, write letters of support to prisoners or do a naked bungee jump (its happening….) see link for details of Shannon Support.