![The court was told the incident caused Shannon Airport to shut down for half an hour [file image]](https://www.rte.ie/images/0023861e-800.jpg)
Three people have appeared before a special sitting of Ennis District Court charged with vandalising a US military aircraft at Shannon Airport in an incident that caused the airport to shut down for 30 minutes on Saturday morning.
The three accused face three charges of trespassing at the main apron and taxiway at Shannon Airport; causing criminal damage to an airside exit barrier and causing criminal damage to a Boeing 737 belonging to the United States Navy Reserve on 22 November.
The defendants are Conan Kavanagh, 23, with an address at New Cabra Road, Dublin 7, Emily Cathcart, 22, of Knocknagin Road, Ballbriggan, Dublin, and Aiden Cantwell who is also known as Kasper Stratta, 23, of Manorlands Crescent, Trim, Co Meath.
During the court sitting last night, Garda Colm Moriarty attached to Shannon Garda Station outlined the allegations to the court.
He said, at 9.30am on Saturday, a Ford Transit van crashed through an exit barrier and drove at speed across the runway to where a US military plane was parked. He alleged the occupants climbed up a ladder through a modified hole in the roof of the vehicle and then spray painted the aircraft.
The court was told the incident caused the airport to shut down for half an hour, and a plane was kept in a holding pattern overhead during that time.
Garda Moriarty told the court that when charged, Mr Cantwell replied, "The use of Shannon Airport by the US military breaks Irish neutrality. The US is a belligerent power complicit in the genocide of Palestinians".
Gardaí objected to bail given the seriousness of the charges.
Judge Marie Keane said the alleged offences "threatened the security of one of our national airports", adding that the security of Shannon Airport is integral to the security of the state.
She remanded the three defendants in custody with consent to bail to appear before the court again via video link on 25 November.
As part of their bail conditions, they must not enter Co Clare except for court appearances and not participate in protests at any airport within the state.
