Courts / Dublin / Report

Accused's actions due to being 'made complicit' in 'destruction and torture', jury told

Date
2020-10-22

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

During the eighth day of a trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Colm Roddy (78) and Dave Donnellan (60) defended their actions of cutting a perimeter fence and painting crucifixes on a runway at Shannon Airport on 5 May 2016. They pleaded not guilty to criminal damage without lawful excuse. Roddy argued that the US military's use of the airport as a forward operating base for 17 years, with 2.5 million troops transiting, made him complicit in "destruction and torture" and that his protest was a lawful excuse to raise awareness. Donnellan claimed that the breach of neutrality and the transformation of the airport into a legitimate military target were not measurable in millimetres, and that his actions aimed to protect human life. Judge Karen O'Connor reminded the jury that the prosecution must negate any defence of lawful excuse. The trial continues at Kings Inns.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Accused's actions due to being 'made complicit' in 'destruction and torture', jury told. Charges or matters: criminal damage without lawful excuse of the fence and runway at Shannon Airport on May 5, 2016. Procedural stage: trial

When:

May 5, 2016 Incident
2020-10-22 Publication

Why: Mr Roddy told the jury that the evidence of two Shannon Airport police officers was that they were previously unaware that the airport is, under international law, a legitimate military target because of the presence of the US military. CNI source report