Grren Leaders Speak with "Forked Tongues" in Galway

galway | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Saturday June 28, 2008 12:55

by Galway Alliance Against War Spokesperson - GAAW

The Green Party leadership appeared to be speaking with “forked tongues”, a spokesperson for the Galway Alliance Against War claimed last night, after both Minister Gormley and Senator Dan Boyle gave conflicting answers as to whether suspect CIA planes had been searched by the Irish authorities at Shannon.

Food for Thought: Sen Boyle & GAAW members meet before Green Fundraising Dinner

Last night, GAAW set up a recruitment stall for its People’s Inspection Teams (PITs) outside the Galway Radisson hotel, where a Green Party fundraising dinner was being held. While a large number of Greens attending signed up for the PITs, Minister Gormley and Sen. Boyle declined to volunteer their services.

However, in separate discussions with the two Green leaders, GAAW members were given conflicting information as to what is happening at Shannon airport to planes suspected of being involved in “extraordinary rendition”. Minister Gormley told GAAW members, whom he met inside the hotel, that last year he had contacted the Dept of Foreign Affairs concerning a suspect US plane that had landed at the airport. Dermot Ahern, then Minister for Foreign Affairs later informed him that the plane had been inspected and it was found to be carrying 4 American businessmen who were on a golfing holiday. However, outside Sen. Boyle was admitting to assembled GAAW members, including 2 local councillors, Deputy Mayor Colette Connolly and independent councillor Catherine Connolly, that no planes had ever been searched.

A GAAW spokesperson queried the veracity of Minister Gormley’s claim: “It would appear the Green leadership is speaking with “forked tongues” on this issue. It is a sad reflection on a party that only 12 months ago was calling for what is desperately needed, rigorous and meaningful inspections of suspect aircraft.”

Galway's Dep Mayor Colette, Dette McLoughlin & Cllr Catherine Connolly quiz Sen Boyle

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Comments (9 of 9)

Now they can check the planes but we can't

by anon

Wed Jul 02, 2008 06:10

Searching of private planes going to the US by the Americans but the Irish cannot check private planes coming from the US is promised by the end of the year by the minister because of our special relationship.

O'Gorman and Pat Breen FG councillor starts midway through this last word todayfm audio clip. Amensty can't the gov to come out and make a statement on it.

http://audio.todayfm.com/audio/20080626170010.mp3

note Pat Breen says we're fully complacent[sic] to our security rules.

PB uses analogy if there a murder in taxi would we have to check that taxi every time it goes through the town. Yes we would if f the taxi had never been searched after the crime like these planes and if that taxi company was regularly hiring out it planes and pilots and to another company to carry out crimes on a regular basis. Even if once and while they also hired it out to golfers, thats just one taxi one time what about checking them all the rest of the time.

Ah well

by Cleaver

Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:48

At least the Green party reps had the nerve to come out and meet the protesters face to face and listen to their concerns, how often have we seen FF ministers etc slip out the back door or drive off in their tinted windowed mercs rather than face the 'electorate'

Well done to all who confront theese liars

by paul o toole

Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:16

pauljotoole at eircom dot net

It is a simple matter of searching planes. It is made to appear complicated by those who prefer assurances from known liars to relieve their own guilt and relieve them of their moral obligations.
I think it is great to see these liars being confronted whenever they venture out in public cos they dont get it from RTE (Refuse to Tell the Electorate). There seems to be a level of respect that people show to these warmongers when they go on walkabout which is un warranted. It seems to be the only oppertunity that ordinary folk have to get a question out and see them squirm without the protection of Kenny, Bowman, Duffy, Ryan, Turbidy, Hook, or any of the rest of the compliant (free) press in Eire.
Slan agat go linn.

Confused in Galway

by sarah Clancy - none

Sat Jun 28, 2008 17:41

Confused here, I was one of those who spoke to John Gormely yesterday and also to Dan Boyle but frankly i'm more confused than ever here is why...

John Gormely said firstly (paraphrasing)' we can not inspect the planes as a matter of protocol - no other country has done so.The only options we have are to stop them altogether or accept the assurances'
He was challenged on this by one of our number who reminded him that Iceland won't accept these planes and secondly that diplomatic assurances had proven false in Britain.

Then went on to say that he himself had received a text from Ed Horgan that a plane suspected of involvement in renditions was at Shannon and that he himself had caused this plane to be inspected. We asked him who inspected it, when,and why don't we know about this seeing as how that is exactly what we are campaigning for and he responded by saying the Department of foreign affairs inspected it and that he didn't believe that Dermot Ahern would tell him a barefaced lie about having done so and that they told him the plane was there for three days and it was only being used by four american buisiness men on a golfing holiday.

So we can't inspect the planes because we might provoke a diplomatic incident but we did inspect one plane and there was no diplomatic incident?? Or we didn't and as Dan Boyle said we must inspect them and we must do so before November...Go figure..

He was challenged on this by one of our number who reminded him that Iceland won't accept these planes and secondly that diplomatic assurances had proven false in Britain.

Trevor had the golf story fed to him too

by not 1 of

Sat Jun 28, 2008 17:12

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84789

GAAW face the Greens

by Fred Johnston

Sat Jun 28, 2008 14:46

sylfredcar at iolfree dot ie

087.2178138

I was particularly sorry not to be able to attend this yesterday, Friday, but am heartened that some Greens appear to be more conscience-bound than others. Getting into bed with Fianna Fáil always means shedding principles and beliefs, as other parties have discovered. This said, it is as always to the credit of the members of GAAW who, in spite of peevish and reactionary heckling in the local media on occasion, have come out time and again to protest against US involvement in Shannon. It would be a good thing were more political parties to be challenged openly in a similar way. The issue of Shannon affects us all - a point often missed. The new notion, that US Homeland Security may be able to search, at Shannon, Irish US-bound aircraft, if I understand it properly, is behind farce. How craven can our government be? It may well be that GAAW and other similar groups are the only bulwark against the slow erosion of Irish sovereignty. Let those who would heckle them join them on the streets.

Last ...

by TD - FPC

Sat Jun 28, 2008 13:14