Garda statement on Shannon restrictions

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Wednesday June 23, 2004 12:24

by Jez

Garda Operation E.U./U.S. Summit 25th and 26th June 2004.

Planning for the visit of President Bush and the EU/US Summit has been ongoing for some months and has involved apart from senior Gardaí, the Defence forces and security services from the United States of America. The Garda Commissioner with his senior officers finalised plans for the visit on Monday 21st June at Garda Headquarters.

President George. W. Bush arrives with the First Lady at Shannon Airport at 8.15 p.m. on Friday 25th June, 2004 and is scheduled to depart at 3.00 p.m. on Saturday 26th June, 2004.

The security operation, which has been put in place, is to ensure the safety of all persons attending the summit and in particular the President.

Upwards of 4000 Gardaí will be deployed during the course of the EU/US Summit and they will be augmented by the Defence Forces.

A number of protests are planned to take place during the course of the event both in Dublin and Shannon itself. The Gardaí will afford every facility to protest groups during this time. Every person has a right to protest peacefully within the law and it is only when people engage in criminal activity that An Garda Síochána have to deal with the situation. In this regard the Gardaí are determined to prevent criminality and public disorder and will ensure a prompt and effective response. Temporary CCTV cameras will be erected at the proposed protest sites and all activities will be monitored. The Garda Air Support will also supply video footage of all activities from the air. Three Garda Command Centres have been established and are sited at Shannon Airport, Dromoland Castle and Shannon Garda Station.

Special arrangements have been put in place for residents, employees and visitors to the Shannon area during this time but because of the extensive security operation it is envisaged that ordinary members of the public may experience some delays. This is unavoidable and regrettable.

We have again secured the services from our colleagues in the P.S.N.I. of two water cannons, which will be on stand by in Shannon. Public Order Units will also be on stand by at different locations in the Shannon area but will only be utilised in the event of difficulties in normal policing methods being experienced.

Special arrangements have been made for the detention of prisoners in Limerick Prison. A unit in Shannon Industrial Estate has been designated as a Garda Station/Courthouse and Detention Centre to ensure the smooth and timely processing of prisoners.

Part of the security operation has involved the security of all primary and secondary routes which entailed the checking of water mains, man holes, gully traps, culverts, bridges, livestock underpasses, wildlife underpasses and walkways etc.

There is also an ongoing liaison between the ourselves and the American Security Services. Assistant Commissioner Dermot Jennings of the Western Region will be in overall charge of the operation.

Traffic arrangements E.U./U.S. Summit 25th and 26th June 2004.

The following traffic arrangements will be in place for the upcoming E.U./U.S. Summit on 25th and 26th June 2004.

The following arrangements will be in place from 3pm Friday 25th June to 3pm Saturday 26th June.

* The N18 will be closed between Clonmoney, Shannon and Skehanagh, Clarecastle.
* Galway bound traffic will be diverted at the Clonmoney flyover on the Limerick side of Shannon via Sixmilebridge and Tulla. Traffic will rejoin the N18 at Lough Cutra near Gort.
* Ennis bound traffic will also be diverted at Clonmoney via Sixmilebridge on the R352 into Ennis.
* Traffic travelling from Galway and Ennis will be diverted at Skehanagh, Clarecastle via Quinn and Sixmilebridge. Traffic will rejoin the N18 at Clonmoney.

The following arrangements will be in place from 10pm Thursday 24th June to 3pm Saturday 26th June.

* The R458 from the Clare Inn roundabout to Ministers Cross, Newmarket on Fergus will be closed.

Gardai will be on duty and diversion signs will be in place.

Shannon airport will operate as normal on 25th and 26th June. Intending passengers are advised to add an extra 2 hours to their travelling time to allow for any delays. This is in addition to any extra time advised by airlines or tour operators.

save preference

Comments (12 of 12)

Hi Osama

by lone Gunman

Thu Jun 24, 2004 14:03

Cead Mile failte.We will have you in the picture all right .Of the crosshairs of a 50cal sniper rifle.You will get to meet Allah personally 2 seconds later.
BTW hows the ol kidneys holding out?

Hi Lone Gunman

by Osama

Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:06

I would like to thank the CIA for training me. I will be in Shannon with one of the Stingers provided by the CIA.

Inspirational personalities pose for the cameras

by nice scenery, shame about the govt.

Wed Jun 23, 2004 17:47

taken from the EU2004 website

The EU delegation will be led by the Taoiseach and President of the European Council, Bertie Ahern and by Commission President Romano Prodi, accompanied by the Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Mary Harney, Foreign Minister Brian Cowen,
EU High Representative Javier Solana, Vice President Loyola de Palacio, Commissioner Chris Patten, Commissioner Pascal Lamy and Commissioner Jan Figel.
The US delegation will be led by US President George Bush, accompanied by Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice, Secretary for Commerce Don Evans and Ambassador James Kenny.

Outline Press Programme

Friday 25th June 2004
20.15 Arrival of US President George Bush - Photo Opportunity at Shannon Airport
20.35 Taoiseach greets President Bush - Photo Opportunity at Dromoland Castle

Saturday 26th June 2004
9.45 Courtesy call by President on President McAleese. Photo Opportunity
10.10 Bilateral with the Taoiseach. Photo Opportunity
10.55 EU-US Summit. Photo Opportunity
13.40 Press Conference, Dromoland Castle. Media Opportunity (to be relayed live to Press and Accreditation Centre, Ennis)
14.15 Taoiseach bids President Bush farewell, Dromoland Castle Photo Opportunity
14.30 President Bush departs Shannon Airport Photo Opportunity

Say cheeseburger!!

Don't worry

by Eliz

Wed Jun 23, 2004 15:35

Dont listen to the scaremongers - they said the same things before the Bush protests here in London last year. Some people were genuinely frightened by their talk of terrorist threats, CIA snipers etc but in the end it was a great protest - don't let them keep you away!

Fair enough so..

by Yossarian

Wed Jun 23, 2004 15:20

call off the protests, we're all going to be shot dead. Viva democracy.

don't worry.

by shocked merrrovingininñjanvanjans.

Wed Jun 23, 2004 15:16

our special gossamar latex depleted crayon silicone lightweight goretex life size synthetic inflatable and completely waterproof protester decoy dummies (which were developed at a cost of 580,000,000,000,000,000,000,000€) will be first to take the bullets / water canon.
So-
if you notice a protester near you, suddenly deflate and with a resounding farting noise go into rocket launch, you'll know it was one of our decoy protesters.

We are of course maintaining an incident room in downtown Barcelona for the necessary short wave radio control equipment with which we shall be stationing these special gossamar latex depleted crayon silicone lightweight goretex life size synthetic inflatable completely waterproof protester decoy dummies, known as "GR2-units" but unfortuantely at the moment, having spent 580,000,000,000,000,000,000,000€ in their development, we don't have the 7.99€ left over for the batteries.

If anyone has a some lithium based batteries, they'd like to donate, give us a call.
or lift the toupee hair wig flap on the back of the GR2 unit's head and put the batteries in-

Good Luck
God Bless Bush.

They will shoot to kill

by Des the Moaner

Wed Jun 23, 2004 14:54

Don't be under any illusions about that. Furthermore, there is no chance whatsoever that the Irish government would take any action against them.

You have been warned.

Helloo...wake up call for rabid crusties!!

by Lone gunman

Wed Jun 23, 2004 14:35

If the ordinary residents of Shannon and surrounds cant even get around ,or up to the airport when the prez is in Clare for 18 hours.How in the Hell do you lot expect to get anywhere near Shannon airport or Dromoland??
You will get as far a proably Bunratty ,Newmarket on fergus,or the Lidil carpark[if you are VERY lucky].BUT THATS IT!!!
No sane police or security operation is going to allow a few hundred of the great unwashed anti American rabble anywhere remotly NEAR their cheif hate figure.
Of course a few of you cretins will try to break through.Good! I really hope you get the May1st treatment if you are so stupid to try.

Wouldnt try Dromoland either there are at least THREE US sniper teams on the loose in the estate.They WILL SHOOT YOU if you are in their sights and unauthorised to be there.Piss and moan all you want they are even liscensed by our own Gardai to carry firearms AND have diplomatic immunity,as do all secret service personel.If of course you belived the "sheeple fodder" that they will be prosecuted if they shoot somone.Well more fools ye.

Got to admire peoples naiveity or optimsim or stupidity who post here on what they are up against.

Anyway.Do have fun and please provide us with some entertaning TV news footage.The RTE summer programmes are as per usual shite,and the 90% of the sane rest of us are bored.Please the Mayday "riot" was very underwhelming.Make an effort at a riot your cheif enemy is coming and you wont get much of a chance again.So make it count.

Who is the "First Lady"?

by Suzie Wong

Wed Jun 23, 2004 14:10

Who exactly is the "First Lady"? Is there a "Second Lady", "Third Lady", etc ?

Are they concubines?

Ignore this Porcine Propaganda

by gofergold

Wed Jun 23, 2004 14:00

This shit is just unbelieveable - since when do the pigs post on Indymedia?

We don't need the 'advice' or 'helpful facilitation' of these wooden-headed cops to forcefully insert a hob-nailed boot up the Bush-Monkey's arsehole, and Ahern's while we're at it.

If the Garda Siochana had any wit they would not be seen dead protecting War Criminals, Torturers and Rapists from the rigorous application of the law - this lunatic Bush should be arrested - and if the Gardai won't do it at least they should not get in the way of those who will.

Shame on you, An Garda Siochana, hand-maiden of the CIA and the forces of repression worldwide.

"to ensure the smooth and timely processing of prisoners"

by Gaillimhed

Wed Jun 23, 2004 13:26

straight into the ..."Shannon Industrial Estate Garda Station/Courthouse and Detention Centre.... ".

What does it all mean?

by Petrie

Wed Jun 23, 2004 12:26

So will be allowed into Shannon or not? I get the impression that we will be.

Number of comments per page

Upcoming Events

New Events

Other Press

User Preferences

Feeds

Blog Feeds

The Saker

Public Inquiry

Lockdown Skeptics

Garda statement on Shannon restrictions

Comments (12 of 12)