NEW YORK COURT CASE REVEALS SHANNON AIRPORT RENDITION FLIGHTS | LABOUR LEADER CHALLENGED BY SHANNONWATCH

‘Not knowing’ is not good enough

Eamon Gilmore

‘SHANNONWATCH’, the human rights group monitoring US military and rendition-linked flights in and out of Shannon Airport and through Irish airspace, has challenged Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore about his turnaround on inspecting suspect aircraft since becoming Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs.
A New York court has heard in recent weeks evidence (in a case between two private jet charter companies) that the CIA operated illegal rendition flights regularly through Shannon Airport. One of the companies, Richmor Aviation, was recorded landing in Shannon on a number of occasions between 2001 and 2005 in the aftermath of 9/11. Court documents appear to show that one flight through Shannon was the rendition of the Egyptian cleric Abu Omar to a country in the Middle East where he was tortured.
Shannonwatch said that, in March 2006, Eamon Gilmore highlighted a Council of Europe statement that the European Convention on Human Rights can be violated through an omission to act. “Not knowing is not good enough,” said Mr Gilmore then.
But now his government says it has no reason to call into question assurances received from the US authorities. “Not knowing about Irish complicity in torture is perfectly okay with Eamon Gilmore now it seems,” Shannonwatch said.
Shannonwatch said assurances from the US authorities are worthless and cited the statement in February 2008 then Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband was compelled to give to the British parliament:
“Contrary to earlier explicit assurances that Diego Garcia had not been used for rendition flights, recent US investigations have now revealed two occasions, both in 2002, when this had in fact occurred.”
Shannonwatch asked: “How long will it be until an Irish Foreign Minister makes a similar statement about Shannon?”
Amnesty International Ireland added: “The Government has an opportunity to break with the failure of the previous administration to protect Irish airspace and human rights.”