Five people appeared at Tulla District Court tonight in connection with an incident at Shannon Airport this morning in which a US Navy plane was damaged. All five were remanded into custody until Friday next.
The five are 22-year-old Damian Moran, 42-year-old Ciaron O' Reilly, 31-year-old Nuin Dunlop, 30-year-old Karen Fallon, all with addresses at Rialto Cottages in Dublin and 32-year-old Deirdre Clancy with an address at Castle Avenue in Clontarf.
They were all charged with causing criminal damage to a US Navy plane at Shannon this morning.
Responding to media coverage of this case throughout the day, solicitor Joseph Noonan, appearing on behalf of all five, said he wanted to point out that his clients were acting from a deep religious motivation in a spirit of non-violence.
He said some commentators including Government Ministers had mentioned violence in relation to this case on the radio during the day and this had caused him and his clients great concern.
He said it was important at this stage that his clients' innocence was respected.
The five were remanded in custody to appear at Ennis District Court next Friday.
Gardaí request assistance of army at Shannon
The Gardaí have confirmed they have requested the assistance of the army in protecting Shannon Airport following this morning's incident.
They say the request came following a meeting between the Garda Commissioner and senior army officers in Limerick.
It is understood the five protestors managed to enter the old SRS hangar at the airport where the plane was being repaired.The aircraft was undergoing repairs after being badly damaged in a separate incident last week.
A meeting was held tonight at Shannon Airport between senior defence force and garda officers to discuss the garda request for military assistance in relation to the security situation at Shannon Airport.
Further discussions are to be held at the airport in the morning.
An application by Aer Rianta for an interlocutory injunction to restrain entry by members of the peace camp to the airfield area is to be heard in the High Court tomorrow.
Woman jailed over attack released
Meanwhile, a 50-year-old woman who was jailed for her part in the attack on the same plane at Shannon Airport last Wednesday morning, has been released from Limerick prison.
Mary Kelly with an address at the Peace Camp at Shannon Airport had been sent there after she refused to sign the conditions set out in her bail bonds.
She signed that bond this afternoon and was remanded to appear at Tulla District court next Wednesday.
Incident regrettable - Sargent
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the incident at Shannon this morning was regrettable, adding that he wished it had not happened as it constituted a distraction from the main issues in the campaign against the buildup to war.
The North Dublin TD said whether the law had been broken or not would ultimately be decided by the courts.
Protesters to blame - Brennan
The Minister for Transport has said that the blame for this morning's incident should be laid squarely on the protesters who broke into the building. Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Seamus Brennan said that the airport was an economic lifeline for the country and its operation should not be interrupted in this way.
The Peace Alliance, representing a number of religious orders and congregations has criticised the action. Brendan Butler, spokesman for the Alliance, called the attack 'counter-productive' and appealed to the demonstrators to use peaceful means only.
The five protestors are members of the Catholic Worker Movement, which was founded 70 years ago in America by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin. The movement advocates renouncing war forever as an instrument of policy.
It has over 185 communities worldwide, including one recently established in Dublin.
