08/04/2008

Shannon Anti-War Protestor Deported From US

An anti-war protestor who allegedly attacked a US military plane at Shannon Airport five years ago has been prevented from entering the United States.

Offaly man Damien Moran says his identity was flagged in a database as soon as he arrived in the country over the weekend and he was subsequently deported by homeland security.

According to an American Newspaper, Mr Moran had been invited to attend and speak at a conference against the US Government's missile defence plans

He told the paper: "I was immediately detained and questioned by Homeland Security officers about our nonviolent and legal action at Shannon in February 2003. The information the border authorities claimed to have was that I was arrested for damaging a US fighter jet at Shannon. I let them know that their database was out of date and that it should also read acquitted as we had a lawful excuse."

He added: "My mobile phone was seized and I was interrogated about the purpose of my trip and why I had damaged US military property. I had been invited to speak at a university in Colorado Springs and at a conference in Omaha on US militarism in Poland and Ireland.

"I also had tickets to visit my brother and his family in Virginia. Homeland Security's unjustified refusal to allow me enter the US is just another example of how quasi-fascist the US State apparatus has become."

Mr Moran was one of five members of the Catholic Worker organisation who cut through the fence at Shannon Airport in February 2003 before damaging a US military plane.

A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court later acquitted all five of criminal damage charges.

(DW/JM)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

26 February 2024
Exploring The Rise Of The Latest Irish Online Casinos
Today, online casinos are more popular than ever. They have attracted players from all over the world and the country of Ireland is no exception.
21 July 2009
Sextuplet Passes Away
One of Ireland's first sextuplets has died. It was revealed today that one of Nuala Conway's four girls - born along with two boys on 22 May - passed away at a local hospital in the North. Their publicist Max Clifford confirmed the news and said: "Our hearts go out to the mum and dad and we hope that the others are going to be fine," he said.
26 July 2010
Piping Of Shannon Water To Dublin Opposed
The development of a major reservoir and waterway, fed by the River Shannon, (see: Shannon To Be Harnessed For Water Supply) has not been universally welcomed. There have been calls for an examination of the potential environmental and economic consequences of Dublin City Council's plans to draw water supplies from the River Shannon from 2016.
23 July 2010
'Don't Steal Our Shannon Water' Says Limerick
There have been calls for an examination of the environmental and economic consequences of Dublin City Council's plans to draw water supplies from the River Shannon. The development of a major reservoir and waterway, fed by the River Shannon, (see: Shannon To Be Harnessed For Water Supply) has not been universally welcomed.
04 December 2012
1000 Jobs For Shannon Dependent On Independence
Some 1000 jobs are expected to announced in the aviation sector as Shannon Airport prepares to become a totally independent by the end of the year. Last May the government announced that Shannon would separate from Dublin Airport Authority, with Shannon Airport and Shannon Development becoming a new commercial entity in public ownership.