15 January 1998 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

New questions raised over Aer Lingus disaster

By Marcas Mac RuairĂ­

THE Celtic League has highlighted evidence which it claims suggests British involement in an air disaster which left 61 people dead.

In March 1968 an Aer Lingus Viscount airliner crashed near Tuskar Rock in the Irish Sea. British involvement has been suspected for some time, but despite circumstantial evidence, the British have denied all allegations.

The Irish government inquiry into the disaster focused on the evidence of eye witnesses. It was clear from this evidence that two aircraft were present in the area on the day, one of which was much further west of the location of the impact.

Witnesses variously described the aircraft as travelling fast and having bright red colouring on the wing tips, tail and fuselage.

In the Celtic League's analysis of the evidence, this colouring identification is crucial as it does not equate with the green and white colourings of the Viscount airliner.

Their statement continues, ``Our research indicates it was the colouring used on unmanned Meteor U Mk 15 and U Mk 16 target aircraft operated from Llanbedr in Wales and attached to the Aberporth test programme.

``Witnesses who saw the aircraft over Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford, which subsequently crashed, also observed peculiarities in it. It appeared `partly enveloped in mist' or ` as if on fire' but with no smoke.

``Again we have ascertained that the Meteor U Mk 15 were fitted with small acquisition flares below the jet pipes and these, when operating, would have created the effect observed.

``In the context of this mystery aircraft, reference is made in the official report to debris in the sea off Fethard-on-Sea, many miles from the crash site of the Viscount aircraft. A vessel was also reported (although the official report was not able to identify it).

``Meteor debris has since been reportedy recovered in this area, which would indicate that at sometime Llanbedr-based target aircraft have strayed far from the Aberporth target containment area.

``If, as we now believe, a missile failed to lock-on to its target and instead locked-on to the Aer Lingus Viscount, that tragic accident may well have been recorded on the target aircraft's cameras, hence the scramble to remove debris from the sea many miles west of the crash site.

``Usefully for the Irish government, should it wish to reopen enquiries into this matter, the identification and service record of all the Meteor target aircraft at Llandedr will be well documented. Strangely, the official enquiry in 1970 did not ask for details of the target aircraft or their deployment.''

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland