*Shannon Airport.
PARENTS of three 23-year old pro-Palestinian activists charged with the criminal damage of a US military plane at Shannon Airport last Saturday provided independent sureties to allow the release of their three adult children from prison.
The three accused who have no previous convictions have spent three nights in custody since their arrests at Shannon Airport on Saturday and at Ennis District Court on Tuesday, Judge Alec Gabbett approved the parents’ independent sureties to allow the three be released on bail as DPP directions are awaited in the case.
The three are facing charges from an incident at the airport last Saturday where members of the Defence Forces tasked to protect a US military aircraft at Shannon Airport drew their weapons briefly in response to an alleged airport incursion by the three.
At a special late night sitting of Ennis District Court on Sunday night, Det Garda Colm Moriarty told the court that a US military aircraft parked overnight allegedly sustained criminal damage when spray painted with green paint from a modified fire extinguisher on top of a modified van in a taxi area on the airfield on Saturday morning.
The three were remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear before the court today via video-link.
In the case, Kaspar Aiden Cantwell Strattra (23) of Manorlands Crescent, Trim, Co Meath, social science student, Emily Cathcart (23) North View, Knocknagin Rd, Balbriggan, Co Dublin and Conan Kavanagh (23) of New Cabra Rd, Dublin 7 and St Joseph’s Drive, Montenotte, Cork are charged with the criminal damage of the main body of a Boeing 737-700 belonging to the US Navy Reserve at Shannon airport on November 22nd.
The three are also charged with the criminal damage of a Shannon Airport airside vehicle barrier and with trespass at the main apron and taxi-way 11 at Shannon Airport on the same date.
One of the three accused, Mr Cantwell Strattra replied after charge: “The use of Shannon Airport by the US military breaks Irish neutrality. The US is a belligerent power complicit in the genocide of Palestinians”.
In court on Tuesday, the father of Emily Cathcart, Jeffrey Cathcart a retired ESB Information Systems worker, appeared to provide an independent surety of €10,000,
Solicitor for the three, Tara Godfrey said that Ms Cathcart’s parents are “people of means”.
In the witness box, Mr Cathcart said that he was happy to lodge €10,000 to secure bail for his daughter who was appearing via video link in court from Limerick women’s prison.
Sgt Frank O’Grady said that DPP directors were not yet available in the case and Ms Godfrey said that she is happy with all of the cases to be adjourned to December 17th to Ennis District Court.
On behalf of Kaspar Aiden Cantwell Stratta, his mother, energy consultant, Olivia Cantwell confirmed to Judge Gabbett that she was in a position to lodge €5,000 cash in order to secure bail for her son and provide an independent surety of €5,000.
On behalf of Conan Kavanagh, Ms Godfrey said that Mr Kavanagh’s mother, Dolores Mullahy was in court to provide independent surety.
In the witness box, Ms Mullahy confirmed that she works as an administrator at the Munster Technological University (MTU) and is able to provide independent surety of €10,000.
Ms Mullahy told Judge Gabbett that she expects that her son will abide by his bail conditions and turn up at any future court date.
Judge Gabbett said that all of the parents who have provided surety for the three accused need to be very aware of the bail conditions that the three must stay out of Co Clare save for court appearances, not protest at any other airports and sign on at their local Garda stations.
Judge Gabbett told the parents “there are a lot of opportunities to lose your money here and I would like you to be very conscious of this and bail conditions here can be easily breached. That money can be very easily lost”.
In court on Sunday, Det Garda Moriarty said that the Defence Forces personnel near the US navy aircraft “had their weapons drawn briefly until the situation was under control”
He said that the airport had to be shut down for 30 minutes and one incoming aircraft was placed in a holding pattern before the airport could re-open.
