Hammered by the Irish

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday April 03, 2003 17:31 by Karen Fallon - Dublin Catholic Worker Limerick Prison

Belated posting of letter from Karen Fallon

Due to practical issues (stuff being scattered around various parts of Limerick and Dublin after coming out of prison), I am only now, with apologies to Karen, posting this letter she wrote in March. It's timely, however, after the Gardai's display at last night's peaceful sit-down protest, to remember that there is someone still in prison for civil disobedience relating to Shannon, refusing to co-operate with bail conditions on the basis that she does not believe she committed a criminal act. Five TDs and one senator agree, and called for our charges to be dropped at a press conference yesterday, along with those of Mary Kelly. In light of Ed Horgan's case before the high court, Karen's reflections on sections of the Irish constitution are also relevant and timely. - Deirdre.

The Dublin Catholic Worker ploughshares action at Shannon Airport was necessary, as both the Irish and American governments thought to use a commercial airport in a neutral country to supply and wage war, or more correctly, genocide, upon the Iraqi people. This was actually happening without informing the public or even asking their permission. By allowing this, the Irish government forfeited its neutrality and made itself complicit in an illegal war against the Iraqi people.

The constitution of Ireland, article 15, 6, 2:

"No military or armed force, other than a military or armed force raised and maintained by the Oireachtas, shall be raised or maintained for any purpose whatsoever."

At Shannon, the Irish government "maintained", by the act of refuelling US military aircraft and allowing US troops to disembark and shop "duty free" (even if this was with capitalist intentions), the U.S. military war machine.

Article 28, 3, 1:

"War shall not be declared and the state shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dail Eireann".

At the time of our action, the US did not have public or governmental permission to use Shannon Airport in its deployment of troops and munitions to Iraq. What did the Irish government think they were doing at Shannon? Buying souvenirs?

Article 29, 1:

"Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality."

The Irish government was so devoted to the ideal of peace, that it demonstrated this by selling its people, its neutrality, its justice and its morality, to the US dollar. At Shannon, the Irish government not only contravened international law and its own constitution, it lied to its people. Even two previous actions taken by individuals at Shannon, failed to stop the Irish government's whorish behaviour!

As a non-violent individual dedicated to a more peaceful existence, I find accusations that our action was violent and anti-American both ignorant and arrogant, to say the least. Whilst in prison, we have been accused of "destroying the Irish economy" and once again, being "anti-American". I find this ludicrous, as one of us is American, and if we could destroy capitalism we would all be delighted and the world would be a better place.

Both the Irish government and the US government put civilians at risk at Shannon. The British government is now doing the same at Prestwick. The first casualty of war is innocence - THEY LIE WE DIE! Which part of the world PEACE don't they understand?

Karen Fallon, 14/03/03.