Two people arrested during protest at Shannon Airport

Pat Flynn

Two people have been arrested in relation to public order incidents at Shannon Airport on Saturday afternoon where an anti-war protest was held.

An estimated 500 people turned up in Shannon to protest at the use of the Clare airport by the US military.

There was a large Garda presence ahead of today’s event with local members from the amalgamated Clare and Tipperary divisions backed up with Garda Public Order Unit officers from Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Cork.

From early morning, one lane of the N19 main road into Shannon Airport was closed while gardaí checked vehicles including busses before they were allowed continue to the airport. Only intending passengers, airport and industrial estate workers or those with business in the airport were allowed continue past the checkpoints.

Traffic was redirected off the N19 through the Shannon Industrial Estate and through a number of checkpoints before reaching the airport.

This ensured that access to the airport could be maintained throughout the protest.

During a previous demonstration in April, the main road was blocked for over an hour resulting in passengers having to leave their buses and make their way to the airport on foot. Some intending passengers left their cars on the roadside and walked to the airport.

Later, Gardaí and Airport Police officers deployed personnel carriers and transported passengers from one the site of the sit-down protest to the airport.

Gardaí and Airport Police officers were able to ensure that traffic could reach the airport with only very slight delays.

A shuttle-bus was provided on Saturday, however to ferry passengers to the terminal where required.

After spending almost an hour chanting at the main security cordon, the around 200 protesters who had initially gathered, marched back out the main road but then made their way through the industrial estate in an effort to circumvent the Garda barriers.

Gardaí, however, were prepared and members, including Public Order Unit officers, were redeployed to an inner cordon where some protesters attempted to get past the barrier but were prevented from doing so.

In the meantime, several more busloads of protesters arrived in Shannon and made their way to the security cordon to join the main demonstration.

Two people were arrested, however, in relation to what have been described as ‘public order’ incidents.

The protesters dispersed at around 5.00pm, however a Garda presence remained at the airport for a time afterwards.

Operations at Shannon Airport were not affected and traffic access to and from the terminal was maintained at all times.

A spokesperson for Shannon Airport said: “A protest which took place this afternoon on the outskirts of the airport grounds has concluded.

"We are pleased to confirm that throughout the protest, there were no disruptions to airport operations. An Garda Síochána implemented planned road diversions, which allowed passengers to access the airport without issue, despite traffic operating on one lane.

"A shuttle bus service was also in operation, transporting some passengers to the terminal building. Passengers had been advised via the airport's social media channels in the days leading up to the event to allow extra time for their journey.

"All flights at the airport operated on schedule, and there were no delays or cancellations as a result of the event.”