Eight arrested and charged following protest at Shannon Airport

EIGHT people have been arrested and charged with alleged public order offences following a pro-Palestinian protest at Shannon Airport this Sunday.

The protest was against "the Irish Governments’ failure to enact its own rules and stop the transportation of weapons bound for Israel through Shannon airport and surrounding Irish airspace", according to a statement from Dublin For Gaza, and was attended by pro-Palestinian groups from across Clare and Ireland.

Footage and images shared on social media appear to show protestors and Public Order Unit officers engaged in scuffles during the protest outside Shannon Airport on Sunday, November 17.

The eight people, four men and four women ranging in age from 21 to 56 years, were arrested for "offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994", according to a statement from An Garda Síochana.

All eight have since been charged to appear before the District Court at a later date.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Clare BDS (@clarebds)

"An Garda Síochána put in place appropriate and proportionate policing plan to monitor a public gathering in the vicinity of Shannon Airport on Sunday, November 17," the statement from gardaí continued.

"Any Garda response in relation to evolving events is in keeping with a community policing model and graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety.

Read Also: University of Limerick scraps development of north campus expansion in Clare

"Ireland is a constitutional democracy and there is a constitutional right for citizens to express freely their convictions and opinions and to assemble peaceably, subject to statutory provisions.

"An Garda Síochána respects the right of citizens to exercise their constitutional rights; exercising such rights does not extend to committing breaches of statutory law," the statement concluded.

Shannon Airport today. Get the US military out of our airport and Israeli weapons out of our airspace. End Ireland’s complicity with apartheid Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people. #USMilitaryOutOfShannon #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/uKafO1rLHo

— ZazaFL (@ZazaFL) November 17, 2024

A spokesperson for Shannon Airport said that "there were no disruptions to airport operations" during the protest on Sunday.

"An Garda Síochána implemented planned road diversions, which allowed passengers to access the airport without issue."

"Passengers had been advised via the airport's social media channels in the days leading up to the event to allow extra time for their journey. All flights at the airport operated on schedule, and there were no delays or cancellations as a result of the event," they said after the protest ended around 6pm on Sunday.