Ennis District Court has heard that two peace activists endangered the lives of passengers on board two Shannon-bound aircraft when they encroached it’s runway last October.
Margaretta D’Arcy and Niall Farrell were both dressed in orange jump suits for yesterday’s hearing, and were accused of using it as a political forum.
Airport Police Officer Richard Moloney told the court that authorities at Shannon had to act quickly on October 7th last year after learning that two people were lying on it’s main runway.
Two aircraft – an Aer Lingus flight from Heathrow and a Ryanair sservice from Stansted – were both blocked from landing and Officer Moloney said the lives of those on board were put in danger.
79-year-old Margaretta D’Arcy of Woodquay, Galway and 60-year-old Niall Farrell from Oranmore admit being on the runway on that date but deny the charge of the illegal incursion onto the airfield.
Ms. D’Arcy said she thinks it’s people’s civic duty to alert the public about what she called ‘unlawful’ acts at Shannon Airport, and the pair received support from TDs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly, who were called as witnesses.
Judge Patrick Durcan said the court is not a political forum but Mr Farrell accused the judge – who is a former Fine Gael senator and councillor, of having ‘political baggage’.
Judgement was reserved until a later date.
