Peace activists Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan went on trial at Court 7 Dublin Circuit Court today, 2^nd March,  almost four years after they entered Shannon Airport to attempt to search and investigate US military aircraft that were on their way to and from US wars in the Middle East. They are charged with causing criminal damage to the airport fence and to the runway.

It is estimated that over five million people, including one million children have died due to wars in the Middle East since the First Gulf War in 1991. The non-violent peace action undertaken by Colm and Dave was done to expose Ireland’s complicity in these unjust and unjustified wars, and to help to prevent the ongoing killing of innocent people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere across the Middle East and North Africa. 

Edward Horgan of Shannonwatch said "Colm and Dave are principled whistle-blowers and peace activists, not criminals. The real criminals are those who are killing innocent people and making wars of aggression in contravention of international laws, including the UN Charter. Irish complicity in these wars is also in contravention of international laws as well as in contravention of Irish laws."

The action by Colm and Dave was also intended to expose the failure by Gardai and other Irish authorities to prevent Shannon Airport from being used to facilitate war crimes in the Middle East.

Edward Horgan added "It is not Colm Roddy and Dave Donnellan who should be on trial. It is the war criminals who are destroying the Middle East, and Irish politicians and others who have been knowingly facilitating the killing of innocent people, who should be on trial.

The trial by jury is expected to last for several days.